PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Malcom Francis (ranked 25370 p4p, 714 weight class) and Tyson Powers (ranked 8835 p4p, 610 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Francis
vs
Powers

190 cm
25
165 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

184 cm
18
156 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Malcom Francis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tyson Powers!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, David Schapiro and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Francis clinches up with Powers and pushes him back against the cage.

Francis jumps guard and drags Powers to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Powers seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Francis is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Powers defends well.
Powers throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Francis is adopting a defensive guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Francis has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Powers can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
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.
Francis has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Powers controls from within his opponent's guard.

Francis working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Powers doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Powers manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Powers trying to control but Francis is working from the bottom.

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.

Francis is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Powers defends well.
Powers looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Powers won't allow Francis to get back to his feet.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francis tries to close the distance and clinch but Powers swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Powers flicks out a counter leg kick but Francis steps away.
Francis will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Francis backing away here, and Powers unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Some bone on bone action there as Powers checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Francis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Powers manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Francis shoots for a double leg takedown but Powers sprawls well. He's pushed Francis's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Powers! But no joy.
Francis closes the distance looking to clinch
and Powers makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Francis instigates a clinch.

Francis gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Powers keeping full guard, as Francis tries to pass.
Francis is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Powers is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Francis is controlling him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Francis not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malcom Francis 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.

Francis fails with the takedown.
Powers steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Francis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Powers can do to turn this around?

Francis gets a clinch.

Francis pulls guard.
Francis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Francis wants to sweep here but Powers controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Francis is looking for a triangle but Powers pushes his legs off easily.
Francis wants to stand but Powers is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powers is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Powers trying to control the position from guard on top but Francis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Powers showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Francis looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Powers has picked Francis up and slammed him! Francis can't keep hold of the triangle and Powers manages to pass to side control!

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.
A lull in the action here.

Powers stands up and beckons Francis to his feet.
Francis fails with the takedown.
Francis misses with a body punch
and Powers counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Francis is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Horrible takedown attempt by Francis or perhaps it was just good defense by Powers, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malcom Francis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Francis with that takedown attempt.
As Francis backs off Powers throws a huge counter combo but Francis manages to avoid it all.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Francis moves into range and clinches up with Powers.

Francis jumps guard and drags Powers to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Francis really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Francis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Francis keeping moving, preventing Powers from controlling successfully.
Powers sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powers trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Francis is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Powers seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Francis looking for a sweep. Not yet Francis, not yet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Francis managing to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tyson Powers will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Francis shoots for a takedown but Powers saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Powers unleashes a big counter combination but Francis bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Francis shoots in looking for a takedown but Powers manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Francis's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Powers has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Francis dives in for a single leg takedown but Powers sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Powers shapes to counter with a head kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malcom Francis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Francis falls off balance throwing a combination
and Powers cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Francis throws a head kick but Powers moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Francis goes for a double leg but Powers avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Powers continues to drive forward.
A low kick from Francis is predictable there
and Powers counters with a one-two to the body.
Francis darts in looking for a takedown but Powers gets double underhooks and turns Francis into the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Francis tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Powers swivels and escapes.
Francis with a poor takedown
and Powers connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Francis fails with an attempt to clinch.
Powers steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Francis closes this distance looking for a takedown but Powers circles away.
Malcom Francis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Francis.
Francis dives in for a single leg takedown but Powers sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Francis rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Powers moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Francis is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Powers throws out a counter right but Francis avoids it with no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Francis looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Powers stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Powers wants it to stay on the feet.
Powers counters with a body kick.
Francis will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Powers is trying to counter with his kicks.
Tyson Powers is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Powers stuffs the takedown.
Francis moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromPowers.
Francis tries for a takedown but Powers circles away easily
and Powers connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Francis with a lazy takedown attempt
and Powers counters with a series of strikes. Francis will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francis misses with a takedown
and Powers counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Francis changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Powers tries to avoid it but Francis manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Powers to the ground. Powers escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Powers looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Powers swats away the attempt to clinch by Francis.
Francis dives in for a single leg takedown but Powers sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Powers steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Francis moves in looking to clinch but Powers pushes him off.
Francis gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Powers to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Francis fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Powers avoids it really well and circles away.
Powers shapes to counter with a head kick.
Francis tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Powers paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Francis with a poor takedown
enabling Powers to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Francis has his takedown stuffed
and Powers counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Francis misses with a takedown
and Powers counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tyson Powers comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Powers has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 27:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Tyson Powers!