PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Harrison Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Harrison Franco has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Franco
vs
Alves

209 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

175 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Harrison Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Thomas Alves!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Jorge Garcia and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alves throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Alves throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Franco tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Alves is in Franco's guard.
Alves stopping the sweep attempt from Franco.
Alves trying to control the position from guard on top but Franco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alves prevents Franco from getting back to his feet.
Franco has control of Alves's left arm, preventing Alves from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alves tries to free his leg and advance position but Franco is retaining full guard.
Franco trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franco is adopting a defensive guard.
Alves really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Franco. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alves takes the fight into the clinch.

Alves manages to break the clinch.

Alves scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Franco is looking for a sweep.
Franco is working hard here to advance position.
Franco is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Franco manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Franco trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Franco manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Alves with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alves sitting in guard here, content to control.
Franco is controlling Alves's posture.
Franco keeping moving, preventing Alves from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alves with a flurry of punches that miss.
Franco is looking to stand up but Alves isn't so interested in that idea.

Franco is working an open guard so Alves takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Alves shoots in and gets a takedown into Franco's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alves in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Franco is looking for a triangle but Alves pushes his legs off easily.
Franco lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Franco working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Franco throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Franco accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Alves not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Franco really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Franco throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alves wants to get back to his feet but Franco passes into half guard.
Alves looks like he's trying to stand up.
Alves avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Franco.
Nice strikes from Franco there.
Franco landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alves trying to get back to full guard but Franco takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Alves is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Harrison Franco will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Alves fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Franco, pushing him back against the cage.
Franco tries to throw a body punch but Alves avoids it by throwing Franco back against the cage.

Franco escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Franco gets caught napping as Alves dives in and scores a takedown. Franco manages to retain guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Franco is on top in guard.

Alves looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Franco passes into side control.
Alves wants to control but Franco postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alves is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves can't do much from the bottom here.
Alves trying to control but Franco flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!

Franco is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Alves is defending well though. Franco let's go of the attempt for now.
Franco throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Alves is trying to stand back up.

Franco working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Franco working for a choke but Alves is defending well.
Franco is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Franco gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Franco gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Franco apologises and we restart here on the feet.

Alves fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Franco to the ground. Alves is now in Franco's guard.
Franco is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Franco is working an open guard so Alves takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alves gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Franco has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Alves after a bit of a struggle.
Franco is looking to control Alves's arms but Alves gets an underhook and turns him. Now Franco has his back to the cage.

Alves pulls guard successfully.
Franco 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.
Alves thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Alves looking to control but Franco passes into half guard.
Alves is breathing heavily.
Alves wants to control but Franco is keeping busy.
Franco throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alves trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Alves is wriggling around trying to escape.
Harrison Franco overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Alves wants to hold on but Franco pushes him away.
BOOM! Franco connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Franco looking to secure an arm triangle but Alves defends it well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Franco looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harrison Franco 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!

Franco fails with an attempt to clinch.

Alves closes the distance and clinches.

Franco turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Alves throws Franco to one side and escapes!
Alves throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Franco wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Alves closes the distance and pushes Franco back into the cage.
Franco tries to pull guard but Alves forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Alves tightens his grip and picks Franco up, before dumping him to the ground. Franco manages to land in guard.
Alves trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Franco is working an open guard so Alves takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Franco moves into the clinch.
Franco jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Alves walks away with a smile on his face. Franco gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Alves circles away from the clinch attempt.
Alves wants to counter the offense by Franco and move into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alves clinches with his opponent.

Alves pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Alves rushes Franco and presses him up against the cage.
Franco changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Alves fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harrison Franco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franco tries to clinch but Alves is having none of it.
Franco tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Alves paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Alves tries a head kick but it misses.
It looked like Franco was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Alves takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Franco gets caught flat footed, as Alves shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Alves is sitting in close to Franco's body. Franco has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Alves is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Alves is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Franco.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Harrison Franco!
Thomas Alves was interviewed post fight and said 'hes a good opponent i hope that i can come back better than ever.'.