PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tiago Franco (ranked 4251 p4p, 475 weight class) and John Button (ranked 6159 p4p, 597 weight class). Tiago Franco could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to John Button's chin.

Franco
vs
Button

180 cm
21
170 lbs
2 - 7 - 0

175 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
KO power

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Knockdown Clothes

Pit Bull Development

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 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tiago Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Button!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Wesley Smith and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franco misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Franco fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Button throws a series of strikes that have Franco backpedaling.
Button looks to land a right hand but Franco moved out of range.
Button throws a one two combo.
A big right from Button misses.
Franco has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Button lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Franco tries to bum rush Button with a series of wild strikes but Button uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Button throws out a counter right but Franco avoids it with no problem.
Button loads up on a big right hand but Franco slips the punch.
Tiago Franco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Button throws a nice looking combination but Franco bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Franco seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Button jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Franco tries to bum rush Button with a series of wild strikes but Button uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Franco stuffs the takedown.
Franco looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tiago Franco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franco tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Button defends well and Franco ends up having to push Button into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Button tries to close the distance and clinch up but Franco swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco goes for a double leg but Button avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Button continues to drive forward.
Franco tries to score a power double leg takedown but Button sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Franco somewhat.
Franco tries to bum rush Button with a series of wild strikes but Button uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Franco jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Franco takes one to the side of the head.
A big right from Button misses.
Button takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Franco tries to clinch but Button is having none of it.
Franco has a takedown stuffed.
Button scores with a crisp jab that stopped Franco in his tracks.
Franco shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Franco takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Franco drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Button darts in and clinches Franco up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Franco taking a breather.
Button misses with a hook from the clinch.
Button displaying some good clinch control by pressing Franco up against the cage.
Button blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Franco is working for takedown but Button is calmly controlling the position for now.
Button lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Franco tries to pull guard but Button holds him up against the cage and eventually Franco drops back down to his feet.
Button throws a head punch that misses.
A short right from Franco on the inside.
Franco wants a takedown but no success here.
Franco can't find room to land a body shot as Button controls the action.
A frustrated look appears on Button's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A short right from Franco on the inside.
Button misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Button fails to land.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Button.
Button lands a hook that snaps the head of Franco backwards.
Franco looking to slow down the pace here.
Button lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Franco backwards.

Franco gets control of Button's arms and successfully pulls guard. Franco will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Franco throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Button 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.
Franco throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Button stopping the sweep attempt from Franco.

Franco kicks Button off and gets to his feet.
Button misses with a straight right.
Franco shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Button as he jumps to the side.
Franco looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Button is fending him off so far but Franco persists. Nope, Button circles away and we're back to standing.
It seemed like Button was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Franco tries to clinch but Button moves out of range.
Franco fails to land the takedown.
Franco is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Button throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
No joy there for Franco, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Button swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Button dives in and scores a takedown into Franco's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Franco manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Franco's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Button stuffs the takedown attempt from Franco. Franco gets slowly back to his feet.
Franco keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Button.
Franco throws a big counter combination but Button scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Franco shoots in but Button avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Button is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Franco has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Button finds it's way round the side to connect with Franco's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
No joy there for Franco, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Franco fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Button dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Franco tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Button paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Franco fails with a takedown attempt.
Button's jab looks to have found its range, popping Franco under the eye.
Franco with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Button counter with a right hand.
Button darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Button lands with a cross.
Franco misses with a takedown attempt

and Button counters with a single leg into guard. Franco didn't expect that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tiago Franco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Button lands a couple of elbows.
Button stopping the sweep attempt from Franco.
Franco trying to keep a closed guard but Button is proving a slippery customer.
Button chips away with some ground and pound.
Franco looking for a sweep. Not yet Franco, not yet.
Franco striking from the bottom.
Button must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Button trying to control the position from guard on top but Franco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco 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 throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Franco wants to sweep but no luck.
Button makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Franco is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franco is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Button is looking to improve his position.
Franco missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Franco trying to control the action but Button is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Button trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Franco working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Button taking shots to the head.

It looks like John Button has been cut.
Franco fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Button wants to control but Franco is having none of it.
Franco wants to control the pace but Button is squirming around nicely.
Franco landing shots from mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Whack. That's a big, big shot from Franco! Button is out cold! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Tiago Franco!