PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Campion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Begbie Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franco has chosen Born Slippy as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Campion
vs
Franco

190 cm
34
210 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

185 cm
43
190 lbs
42 - 28 - 1

Good wrestling
Decent elbows
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

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 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Thomas Campion!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 42 - 28 - 1, fighting out of London, Begbie Franco!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Thiago Cunha and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franco misses with a takedown attempt
and Campion counters with a one-two to the body.
Campion stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Campion wants it to stay on the feet.
Campion appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Franco.
Thomas Campion has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Begbie Franco.
Franco stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Franco wants it to stay on the feet.
Franco drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Campion defends it well.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Franco is defended easily by Campion.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franco fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Campion throws a big counter combination but Franco scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Franco takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franco moves into the clinch.
Campion goes for a takedown attempt but Franco pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Campion slaps away a takedown attempt from Franco, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Campion rushes Franco and presses him up against the cage.
Campion jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Franco walks away with a smile on his face. Campion gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Campion throws a body kick that misses.
As Campion backs off Franco throws a huge counter combo but Campion manages to avoid it all.

Campion moves into the clinch successfully.
Franco tries to land knees in the clinch but Campion avoids the damage to the body.
Campion is working for takedown but Franco is calmly controlling the position for now.

Campion gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Franco is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Campion is controlling him.
Campion is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Campion working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Franco trying to control the position.
Campion looking to sit in guard and control but Franco gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Campion is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Campion 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.
Campion is trying to control the position but Franco postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Campion is looking to stand up but Franco isn't so interested in that idea.
Campion striking from the bottom.
Campion working a defensive guard here.
Campion looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Campion can't keep his opponent in guard - Franco advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Franco trying to control the action but Campion is working from the bottom.
Campion is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at London MMA Club, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Campion tries to roll over but Franco keeps him under control.

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.
Campion is working hard here to advance position.
Franco keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Campion preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

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

Campion looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Campion throws a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Campion dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Campion leaves Franco with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Franco scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Campion trying to control but Franco postures up.
Franco is trying to control the action in half guard but Campion is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Campion is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Franco can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Campion is defending against the submission attempts here by Franco.
Franco moves into full mount! Campion won't be happy about that!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Campion tries to control the position but Franco now has his back.
Franco controlling well, preventing Campion from escaping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Campion is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Franco.
Franco is trying to stick to Campion's back but Campion is turning into Franco. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Franco's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Campion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Campion trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Campion has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Franco has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Campion cracks Franco with a solid left hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Campion accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Campion throwing strikes from guard but Franco blocks nicely.
Campion scoring with punches to the head and body.
Campion postures up and lands a big shot to Franco's brow.
Franco is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Campion trying to control the position from guard on top but Franco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Campion won't allow Franco to sweep him here.
Campion throwing strikes from guard but Franco blocks nicely.
Campion looking to pass the guard.
Franco is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Campion scoring with punches to the head and body.
Campion in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Franco preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Campion stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Campion displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Franco.
Campion attempts a counter takedown but Franco avoids it well and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco misses with a combination

and Campion counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Franco!
Campion wants to lay and pray for a moment but Franco keeps working.

Campion thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Campion goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Franco has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Campion but great work by Franco.

Franco decides to take the fight back to the feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Franco shoots in for a takedown but Campion shows good takedown defense.
It looked like Campion wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Thomas Campion has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Begbie Franco.
Campion misses with a wild combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Thomas Campion will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Franco tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Campion defends well and Franco ends up having to push Campion into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Campion motions for Franco to come forward. Campion throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Campion looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Franco!
Campion wants to control but Franco is keeping him busy.
Campion working the ground and pound from side control.
Franco is trying to improve his position.
Franco is not content to let Campion control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco is looking for a sweep.

Campion looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Campion in side control lands a decent elbow.
Franco wants to get back to his feet but Campion drags him back down.
Thomas Campion overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Campion lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Franco down.
Campion cracks Franco with a big right hand but Franco just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Campion goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Franco has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Campion but great work by Franco.
Campion is trying to improve his position.
Campion is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Franco has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Campion is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Franco's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Campion trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Campion wants to get back to full guard.
Franco thows a huge punch but Campion dodges it nicely.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Franco is continuing to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco is trying to control. Campion wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Campion is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Franco trying to control the pace.
Campion is trying to control but can't.
Franco is keen to just control but Campion is a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

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.
Franco tries to close the distance and clinch up but Campion swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Campion shoots in for a takedown but Franco shows good takedown defense.
Thomas Campion is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Franco dodges the punch combination from Campion.
Franco dives in and grabs Campion's left leg, looking for a takedown. Campion pushes down on Franco's head and hops out.

Campion bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Campion works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Franco is looking to regain half guard here but Campion keeps moving and retains side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Franco being controlled for a moment.
Begbie Franco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Franco tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Campion showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Campion 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Campion!
During a confident post fight interview, Thomas Campion thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.