PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yuran Franco (ranked 4637 p4p, 517 weight class) and Timur Umarov (ranked 1509 p4p, 204 weight class). Umarov is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: 2Pac - When We Ride On Our Enemies. Timur Umarov is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Franco
vs
Umarov

185 cm
21
186 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

178 cm
28
185 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

BuriedAlive// Fight Gear
Juggernaut And Gladiators

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yuran Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Timur Umarov!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Umarov throws a hook but Franco blocks it.
Franco uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Umarov.
Umarov misses with a straight right.
Umarov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Franco.
Franco attempts a counter takedown but Umarov avoids it well and moves away.
The fighters circling - Umarov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nice jab there from Umarov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Umarov cracks a nice hook into Franco's ribs.
Umarov throws a lazy right hand but Franco sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Franco feinted with a counter takedown.
Franco avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Timur Umarov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Umarov throws a hook to the side of Franco's head but Franco sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Umarov is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Franco uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Umarov.
Franco appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Umarov as Franco shoots in.
A nice side step and Umarov releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
A slow jab from Umarov misses its intended target.
Franco drops down looking for a counter takedown but Umarov sprawls and moves away.
A telegraphed right hand from Umarov misses the target.
Umarov misses with an uppercut.
Umarov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Franco ducks under a wild hook from Umarov.
Franco is looking to counter the offense by Umarov and move into the clinch.
Franco steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Umarov.
As Umarov looks to move away, Franco throws a big counter combo but Umarov just gets out of the way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Umarov jabs Franco right on the nose. Franco blinks but takes it well.
Umarov scores with a jab to the jaw.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Franco is defended easily by Umarov.
Umarov throws a looping overhand right but Franco ducks down to avoid it.
Franco dives in for a single leg takedown but Umarov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A little jabbing left from Umarov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuran Franco. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Umarov finds it's way through Franco's defenses.
Franco takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Umarov lands with a right hand.
Franco on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Umarov just misses with a punch to the body.
Umarov lands with an uppercut that bounces Franco off the cage and back into range.
Umarov misses with a straight right.
Umarov misses with an uppercut

and Franco counters with a takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Umarov tries to bench press Franco off him but Franco keeps the position.
Franco is looking to take a break and control but Umarov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Umarov is looking to reverse the position.
Franco throws an elbow but Umarov slips to the side and avoids it well.
Franco lands some shots froms side control.
Franco throws a strike aimed at the side of Umarov's head but Umarov avoids it well.
Franco throws an elbow but Umarov slips to the side and avoids it well.
Franco tries to move to mount but Umarov blocks the move with his legs.

Franco is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Umarov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Franco is looking to take a break and control but Umarov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Franco throws a strike aimed at the side of Umarov's head but Umarov avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Umarov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Franco sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Franco uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Umarov.
Franco misses with a takedown
and Umarov counters with a stiff right hand.
Timur Umarov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Umarov feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Francos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Nice defenses there by Franco.
Franco changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Umarov takes a swing at Franco's ribcage but misses.
Franco slips a straight right by Umarov.
Franco walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Umarov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Umarov scores with a nice right hand.
Franco shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jab from Umarov.
Umarov lands an overhand right.
Umarov 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.
Umarov scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Good standup being displayed there by Umarov as he connects with a hook.
Franco darts in looking for a takedown but Umarov gets double underhooks and turns Franco into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuran Franco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franco moves out of range of the strikes.
Franco attempts a counter takedown but Umarov avoids it well and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Umarov lands an overhand right.
Umarov throws a shot from downtown. Franco moves away and avoids it.
Umarov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Franco sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Franco fails with a takedown attempt.
Umarov lands a jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Umarov scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Umarov throws a poor cross that misses

and Franco counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Franco thows a huge punch but Umarov dodges it nicely.
Franco thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Umarov's head.
Franco lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Franco is nestled in close to Umarov, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Franco throwing shots but Umarov is blocking nicely.
Franco is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Umarov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Franco has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Franco stands and throws Umarov's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Umarov dodges the ground and pound from Franco.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Umarov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Umarov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Umarov avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Franco.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Franco working the ground and pound.
Franco is putting a hurting on Umarov here, landing some big shots from side control.
Franco fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Franco misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Umarov prevents Franco from moving into mount.
The ground and pound from Franco seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Sloppy strikes there by Franco.
Umarov felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Yuran Franco overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Franco tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Umarov takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timur Umarov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Franco avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Umarov bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Franco moves away from the strike by Umarov.
Franco uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Umarov.
A telegraphed right hand from Umarov misses the target.
Franco feinted with a counter takedown.
Umarov scores with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franco shoots in and drives through. Umarov sprawls well.
Umarov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Franco appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Umarov throws a jab when Franco was well out of range.
Franco tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Umarov manages to circle out of the way.
Franco's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Umarov connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Franco scrambles back to his feet.
Franco takes one to the side of the head.
Umarov lands with a straight right. Franco didn't see that one coming.
Franco looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
A swing and a miss from Umarov.

Franco looking to score a takedown here. Umarov is defending well but Franco drives through and ends up in Umarov's guard.
Umarov working a defensive guard here.
Franco postures up in Umarov's guard and throws a big left but Umarov blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco throws a big right hand that misses.
Franco missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Franco working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Umarov seems keen to control Franco's posture.
Franco lands a couple of elbows.
Franco postures up in Umarov's guard and throws a big left but Umarov blocks it.
Franco with a flurry of punches that miss.
Umarov is adopting a defensive guard.
Franco trying to control but Umarov is working from the bottom.
Franco advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Umarov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Franco.
Umarov is trying is best to control the position here.
Let's hope that Umarov has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Franco missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Umarov is trying to control but can't.
Franco thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Umarov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Franco.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Franco lands a nice short elbow.
Umarov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Umarov is looking for a sweep. Franco is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Umarov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Franco lands a couple of digs.
Umarov pulls Franco in close to prevent any damage.
Yuran Franco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Franco throws an elbow that misses. Umarov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Franco's guard. Nice move by Umarov!

Umarov wants to pass the guard but Franco is keeping the position.

Franco is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Umarov defends well.
Umarov trying to control the position from guard on top but Franco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Timur Umarov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Umarov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Franco is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Umarov is aware though and is defending well.
Umarov controls from within his opponent's guard.

Franco looking for a guillotine here but Umarov defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Timur Umarov.
I've got Umarov 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Timur Umarov!
An out of breath and clearly excited Timur Umarov thanked BuriedAlive// Fight Gear for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).