PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Eisson Franco (ranked 4385 p4p, 210 weight class) and Fred Norris (ranked 5388 p4p, 244 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Franco
vs
Norris

170 cm
20
135 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

170 cm
25
139 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight 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, Eisson Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fred Norris!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Norris swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Franco.
Norris misses the jab.
Norris throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Norris misses the target.
Franco bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Norris misses with an uppercut.
Franco was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Norris looks to land a left hand but Franco moved out of range nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norris swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Norris throws a lazy uppercut
and Franco counters with a series of strikes. Norris will be more careful next time no doubt.
Franco slips a straight right by Norris.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norris looks to land a combination but Franco avoids it well.
Norris lands a glancing blow to the side of Franco's head.
Fred Norris is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Norris throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Franco to counter with a crisp jab.
Franco tries to score a power double leg takedown but Norris sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Franco somewhat.
Norris scores with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norris slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Norris scores with a punch to the head.

Franco shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Norris manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Franco throwing strikes from guard but Norris blocks nicely.
Norris is adopting a defensive guard.
Franco postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Franco working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Franco missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Norris works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Franco lands a couple of digs.
Norris working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Franco.
Franco working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Franco throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Norris is trying to control the position but Franco postures up.
Franco wants to control from the top but Norris keeps moving.
Norris is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Norris wants to sweep here but Franco controlling him for the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Franco accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Franco throwing strikes from guard but Norris blocks nicely.
Norris is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
We've been informed that Norris has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Franco throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norris is trying to keep Franco in close.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Franco accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Franco working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Franco cracks Norris with a solid left hand.
Franco stopping the sweep attempt from Norris.
Franco wants to control from the top but Norris keeps moving.
Norris looking to control.
Norris 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.
Norris keeping moving, preventing Franco from controlling successfully.
Norris is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Norris. Franco does a little dance to reset his feet.
Norris misses with a wild combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fred Norris dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Norris throws a one two combo.
Fred Norris seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Norris loads up on a big right hand but Franco slips the punch.
Franco half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Norris throws a looping overhand right but Franco ducks down to avoid it.
Norris uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Franco has time to react.
Norris scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Fred Norris seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norris loads up on a big right hand but Franco slips the punch.
Franco is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Franco throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Eisson Franco is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Norris stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Norris wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norris slaps away a takedown attempt from Franco, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Jab by Norris.
Franco with a poor takedown
and Norris counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eisson Franco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Norris swings for the body but Franco moves out of range.
Norris has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Norris misses with an uppercut. Franco saw that one coming.
Franco gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norris lands a head shot.
Norris bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Franco's head.
Norris throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Norris digs a good body shot into Franco's ribs.
Norris works the jab nicely.
Norris thuds his right hand into Franco's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A punch lands to the side of Franco 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Franco takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norris misses with a looping left.
Franco avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Norris cracks a nice hook into Franco's ribs.
Norris rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Franco counters with a good, hard body kick but Norris shrugs it off.
Norris tries to bum rush Franco with a series of wild strikes but Franco uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Norris might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Franco tries for a takedown but Norris sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Franco takes one on the button.
Norris swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Franco counters with a one-two to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco takes one to the chin there.
Franco moves away from the strike by Norris.
Norris connects with a body shot that sends Franco's belly button to the back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Franco walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A punch combination from Norris misses.
Franco ducks under a wild hook from Norris.

Franco decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Norris keeping hold of Franco's head, controlling as best he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fred Norris showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Norris misses with a lunging right hand
and Franco counters with an inside leg kick.
Nice sprawl there from Norris as Franco shoots in.
Norris swings widly with a right hand
and Franco counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Norris connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Norris's corner calls for a 1-2. Norris obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Norris throws a big shot that misses.
Franco is looking to counter punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Norris misses with a straight left.
Franco ducks under a wild hook from Norris.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Franco. Norris does a little dance to reset his feet.
Franco dives in and grabs Norris's left leg, looking for a takedown. Norris pushes down on Franco's head and hops out.
Franco has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Franco there as he acknowledges the shot.
Norris lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Franco at a distance.
The fighters circling - Norris throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
As Norris backs away, Franco returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Franco shoots in looking for a takedown. Norris tries to sprawl out of it but Franco keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Norris manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eisson Franco. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norris misses with a jab, cross combination.
A jab from Norris does it's job there.
Norris lands with a nice body punch.
Norris catches Franco with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Franco misses with a takedown attempt - Norris sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Norris throws a hook but Franco avoids it easily.
Norris catches Franco with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Franco fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Norris to the ground. Franco is now in Norris's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Franco accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Franco working some strikes from top position.
Franco with a nice head shot there.
Franco throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Norris is trying to keep Franco in close.
Franco trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Franco trying to control the position from guard on top but Norris is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Norris looking to control.
Eisson Franco overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Franco working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Franco looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Franco is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Norris is trying to control the position but Franco postures up.
Norris takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Franco throwing strikes but missing.
Franco lands a couple of digs.
Norris is trying to control the position but Franco postures up.
Franco postures up in Norris's guard and throws a big left but Norris blocks it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Norris looking to control.
Franco trying to control the position from guard on top but Norris is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Norris misses with a hook. Franco ducked under it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fred Norris comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Norris winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Fred Norris!
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight for Fred Norris!
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for Fred Norris!

Fred Norris wins by unanimous decision!