PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ezio Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Derek David (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Franco might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to BASS. Derek David has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Franco
vs
David

190 cm
24
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
205 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ezio Franco!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Derek David!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Mauricio Rocha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
David throws a right and a left that Franco avoids nicely.
Franco shoots in for a takedown but David shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Franco fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
David ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Franco moves away.
David doesn't manage to clinch there - Franco circles away.
David misses with a double jab.
David lands a nice looking body shot.

Franco rushes David and presses him up against the cage.
David changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Franco fights it off and pushes away nicely.
David has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Franco is landing a low percentage of strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
David pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Franco seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

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

Franco jumps guard.
David forces his way into half guard.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
David trying to mount his opponent but Franco defends it.
Franco is looking to escape.

David seems to be looking for submissions.
David thows a huge punch but Franco dodges it nicely.
David working the head and body with strikes.
David blocks the strikes from Franco.
David blocks the strikes from Franco.
Franco wants to improve his position but David is controlling well.

That's two 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 missing with punches from the bottom.
David blocks the strikes from Franco.
Franco is staying active underneath David, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
David moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Franco.
Franco manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
David 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.
Franco is trying to stand.
Franco flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Franco is staying active underneath David, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Franco slips a jab and a cross from David.

Franco instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Franco obliges.
David tries for a takedown but Franco manages to get underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on David's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Franco wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ezio Franco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franco tries for a takedown but David manages to get underhooks.

David escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Franco takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Franco is breathing heavily.
David tries to clinch up.
Franco walks into a jab.
Franco has a takedown stuffed.
Derek David seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
David misses with a hook to the body

and Franco counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Franco.
We've been hearing that Franco has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Franco engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franco won't allow David to sweep him here.
David avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
David 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.
Franco in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Franco throwing strikes but missing.
Franco with a flurry of punches that miss.
Franco postures up in David's guard and throws a big left but David blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nice sprawl there from Franco as David shoots in.
Franco looks for a takedown but David sprawls well.

David tries to keep at a distance but Franco has taken the fight into the clinch.
Franco is looking for a takedown.
Franco tries to pull guard but David forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ezio Franco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franco is looking for a takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
David pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by David.

David escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Franco fails with an attempt to clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Franco.

That's one minute gone in the round.
David is looking to land body kicks.
David pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
David throws a hook but Franco avoids it easily.
Franco shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
David misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Franco.
Franco tries to counter by moving into the clinch but David manages to circle out of the way.
David shoots in but Franco avoids the takedown attempt easily.
David looks to land a right hand but Franco moved out of range.
Derek David seems to be getting the better of the standup.

David closes the distance and clinches.
David is trying to force a seperation but Franco has the dominant position.
David is trying to stall.
Franco throws an elbow but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
David drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Franco gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Franco lands a left hand that snaps the head of David backwards.
Franco tries for a takedown. No joy.
David is trying to pull guard but Franco turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
David pressing his opponent against the cage.
David looking to slow down the pace here.
David taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Franco pulls guard effortlessly.
Franco striking off his back but it's not causing David any problems.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Franco throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
David slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Franco.

Franco has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but David is on him like a limpet, forcing Franco back against the cage.
Franco tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. David just stands there and leans against the cage.
David is trying to break free.

David's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
David tries a head kick but it misses.
Franco tries to move into range but David moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Franco ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Franco no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Franco looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Franco has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes David off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Franco circles away from the clinch attempt
and Franco counters with a nice kick to the body.
David throws a hook but Franco blocks it.
David jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
David scores with a three punch combo!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Franco.
David punishes Franco's body with a nice straight punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Derek David will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Franco's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

David throws a hook but Franco blocks it.
As David tries to get set, Franco tries to push him back and clinch up but David manages to avoid the attempt.
David takes a swing at Franco's ribcage but misses.
David lands a jab.
David lands a nice leg kick that just misses Franco's sensitive parts.

David moves into range and clinches up with Franco.
Franco tries for a takedown. No joy.
Franco tries to pull guard but David forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Franco creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franco utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
David is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

David successfully pulls guard.
Franco trying to control the position from guard on top but David is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco looking to sit in guard and control but David gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Ezio Franco overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Franco throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Franco throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Franco throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
David is working Franco over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Franco throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Franco trying to strike off his back.
David landing some decent shots from guard.
Franco striking off his back but it's not causing David any problems.
Ezio Franco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
David must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
David cracks Franco with a solid left hand.
Franco throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
David trying to control but Franco is working from the bottom.
Franco wants to sweep but no luck.
Franco keeping moving, preventing David from controlling successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Franco striking off his back but it's not causing David any problems.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ezio Franco is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
David scores with a nice head shot.
Franco avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

David shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Franco napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Franco is rocked!

David looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Franco chipping away with strikes from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
David trying to control the position but Franco is working away.
Franco sneaks back into half guard.

David is working for a submission of some sort.
Franco throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Franco flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

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.
David blocks the strikes from Franco.
Franco punching from the bottom.
Franco punching from the bottom.
Franco throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Franco tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Franco missing with punches from the bottom.

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

Oooooh!!! David has knocked Franco down with a huge combo! David steps away and waves a wobbly Franco back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
Oh Franco is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
David drops Franco with a straight left! Oh this is bad for Franco! David dives in and starts dropping bombs - the referee has no choice but to step in and save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Derek David!
Derek David is the new light heavyweight champion!