PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brian Dann (ranked 5461 p4p, 561 weight class) and John Franco (ranked 5488 p4p, 562 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dann
vs
Franco

182 cm
30
196 lbs
7 - 9 - 0

182 cm
30
180 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brian Dann!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Franco!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Thiago Cunha and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dann shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Franco as he jumps to the side.

Franco shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Dann manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Dann keeping moving, preventing Franco from controlling successfully.
Franco is pushing down on Dann's leg trying to pass to half guard. Dann is fighting to maintain full guard but Franco has managed to sneak the leg through.
Franco is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Dann is trying to control but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dann is refusing to be controlled, as Franco sits in half guard.

Dann looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Franco with the ground and pound but Dann uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco trying to control but Dann is working from the bottom.
Dann working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Franco.
Franco throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dann works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dann on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Dann tries to get out of the position.
Franco wants to pass the guard but Dann is keeping the position.
Dann looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dann keeping full guard, as Franco tries to pass.
Franco trying to control the position from guard on top but Dann is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Franco postures up and lands a big shot to Dann's brow.
Franco being controlled here momentarily.
Franco content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Franco forces his way into half guard.
Franco is trying to control the action in half guard but Dann is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Dann is defending against the submission attempts here by Franco.

Franco is working for a submission of some sort.

Dann pushes Franco off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco shoots and misses
and Dann counters with a nice body kick.
Franco fails with the takedown

and Dann counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Dann.
Franco is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Brian Dann has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Franco.
Dann wants to break free but Franco has control.

Dann breaks the clinch.
Franco shoots in and drives through. Dann sprawls well.
Franco looks winded!
Dann looks for a takedown but Franco sprawls well.
Franco tries to clinch up.
Dann looks for a takedown but Franco sprawls well.
Franco tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Franco throws an overhand right that lands on Dann's shoulder, as Dann tries to avoid the shot.
Franco swats away the attempt to clinch by Dann.

Franco looking to score a takedown here. Dann is defending well but Franco drives through and ends up in Dann's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dann is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Franco is looking to work some ground and pound but Dann has wrist control.
Dann is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Franco preventing the sweep.
Dann is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Franco wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franco is looking to control Dann's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Franco avoid being mounted?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Franco manages to get to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Franco will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Dann darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Franco looking for submissions off his back.
Dann trying to control the action but Franco is working from the bottom.
Dann is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franco moves into full guard.
Franco is looking to stand up but Dann isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Dann manages to get himself to full guard.

Dann striking off his back but it's not causing Franco any problems.
John Franco has got the better of the ground game so far.
Franco is looking to work some ground and pound but Dann has wrist control.
Dann pulls Franco in to control the position.
Dann looking for a sweep. Not yet Dann, not yet.
Dann wants to stand but Franco is controlling the position.
Dann keeping moving, preventing Franco from controlling successfully.
Franco loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Franco looking to pass the guard.
Franco keeps trying to improve his position.
Dann is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dann is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Dann looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Dann decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
A head kick misses from Dann.

Franco moves into the clinch.

Franco has hold of one of Dann's legs. Dann is fighting the takedown attempt but Franco gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Dann uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Franco closes the distance and pushes Dann back into the cage.
Dann swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Franco trying to land knees to the body.
Dann takes an elbow to the temple.

Dann drags the fight down to the ground.
Dann controls Franco momentarily but Franco frees himself.
Dann pulls Franco in close to prevent any damage.
Dann keeping moving, preventing Franco from controlling successfully.
Franco wants to pass the guard but Dann is keeping the position.

Franco drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Dann dives on top into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dann is one step ahead there.
Franco keeping moving, preventing Dann from controlling successfully.
Franco wants to get back to his feet but Dann passes into half guard.
Franco wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dann wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Dann dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Franco fails with a takedown attempt.
Dann tries for a takedown but Franco sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Dann gets the takedown into side control.

Dann decides to stand back up. Dann steps back and let's Franco get back to his feet.
Franco avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Dann.
Franco tries to counter with a clinch but Dann shakes him off and moves away.
The crowd cheers as Dann lands an impressive looking overhand right. Franco doesn't seem phased though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dann fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Dann. No joy for Franco on that attempt.
John Franco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dann tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Franco defends well and Dann ends up having to push Franco into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian Dann. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Franco darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Franco sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Dann defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Franco is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Dann doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Franco.
Dann slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Dann working a defensive guard here.
Franco trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Franco throwing strikes from guard but Dann blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Dann wants to sweep but no luck.
Franco lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Dann wants to sweep but no luck.
Dann manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Franco manages to get himself to full guard.

Franco is looking to stand up but Dann isn't so interested in that idea.
Dann wants to control from the top but Franco keeps moving.
Dann won't allow Franco to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco pulls Dann in to control the position.
Dann wants to pass the guard but Franco is keeping the position.

Franco has his foot on Dann's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Dann works his way back into a safe position though.
Dann wants to control from the top but Franco keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Dann is looking to clinch but Franco is avoiding it.

Franco closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Dann's guard.
Franco chips away with some ground and pound.

Franco thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Franco takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Franco is fighting to break Dann's control of his arms but Dann is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Dann controls Franco momentarily but Franco frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Dann keeping full guard, as Franco tries to pass.
Franco distracts Dann with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Dann pulls Franco in close to prevent any damage.
Franco looking to sit in guard and control but Dann gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Dann stands up from Franco's guard - Dann perhaps looking for a knockout.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Franco fails with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to John Franco.
I think Franco 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!