PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brian Dann (ranked 2399 p4p, 303 weight class) and John Franco (ranked 8852 p4p, 689 weight class). Brian Dann has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Dann
vs
Franco

182 cm
31
196 lbs
10 - 10 - 1

182 cm
31
180 lbs
11 - 6 - 1

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 10 - 10 - 1, 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 11 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Franco!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Seu Braga and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franco tries for a takedown but Dann sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Dann. Franco does a little dance to reset his feet.

Dann clinches.
Franco is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Franco throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Franco gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Dann manages to break the clinch.
Franco circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dann throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Franco shoots in for a takedown but Dann shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Franco connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Dann moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Dann tries to sprawl but Franco drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Franco stops Dann from getting back to his feet.

Dann is defending against the submission attempts here by Franco.
Well, if Franco is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco trying to control the action but Dann is working from the bottom.
Franco throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Dann looks like he's trying to stand up.
Franco is pressing down on Dann's thigh, looking to free his foot. Dann is holding on for now.
Dann wants to control but Franco is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ground and pound from Franco.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dann trying to control here.
Dann is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Franco's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Franco's back!

Franco manages to stand up with Dann still on his back. Eventually Dann drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.
Dann moves in looking to clinch but Franco pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco has a takedown stuffed.
Brian Dann has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Franco.
Franco has a takedown stuffed.

Franco decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
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.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Franco wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dann keeps working.
Dann controlling the position for now.
Franco looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Franco wants to pass to mount but Dann is defending the position.
Dann keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dann keeping hold of Franco's head, controlling as best he can.

Franco is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Dann trying to control here.
Franco thows a huge punch but Dann dodges it nicely.

Franco is looking for a kimura here.
Dann tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Franco tries to pass to full mount but Dann defends it.
Dann is staying active underneath Franco, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Franco throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Franco looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dann moves into full guard.
Franco prevents Dann from getting back to his feet.
Dann trying to keep a closed guard but Franco is proving a slippery customer.
Franco stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dann swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dann can't keep his opponent in guard - Franco advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Dann won't allow Franco to pass to mount.

Franco is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Dann has managed to free his arm - good work.
Dann controlling the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Franco dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Dann throws a jab when Franco was well out of range.
Dann closes the distance and clinches up with Franco, looking for a takedown. Dann pushes Franco against the cage but Franco circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Franco dives in and grabs Dann's left leg, looking for a takedown. Dann pushes down on Franco's head and hops out.
Dann shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Franco pinned against the cage. Franco gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Dann tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Franco paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And Franco tries to counter it with a takedown but Dann pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Franco fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Dann avoids it really well and circles away.
Franco has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Franco has Dann up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Franco has picked Dann up - he's going for a ride! Franco dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Franco is working for a kimura but Dann is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franco seems to be working for a kimura but Dann defends the submission attempt.
Franco seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Franco winds up and cracks Dann with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Dann landing small, sideways elbows.
Dann works his way to full guard. Good work.
Franco throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dann works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Franco must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dann has momentary wrist control but Franco slips an elbow through the middle.
Dann lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Franco keeping moving, preventing Dann from controlling successfully.
Dann is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Franco is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dann looking to pass the guard.
Dann postures up.
Dann trying to control the position from guard on top but Franco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Franco working a defensive guard here.
Dann stays in close to Franco's body and controls the position.

Franco looking for a guillotine here but Dann defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dann with a nice head shot there.
Franco is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Franco looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Franco is working an open guard so Dann takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Franco shoots in for a takedown but Dann shows good takedown defense.
Brian Dann has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Franco.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Franco enables Dann to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Franco manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Franco keeping moving, preventing Dann from controlling successfully.
Franco has a closed guard, preventing Dann from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dann working some strikes from top position.
Dann not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Franco is trying to keep Dann in close.
Franco can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Dann controls the pace.
Franco controls Dann momentarily but Dann frees himself.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Franco is looking to stand back up but Dann counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Franco.
Dann lands with a punch from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Dann dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Dann fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Franco on the side of the head.

Franco gets a takedown into half guard.

Dann manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Franco keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Franco lands a takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dann preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Franco throws a big right hand that misses.
Franco wants to control from the top but Dann keeps moving.
Franco working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Dann's head.

Dann is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Franco defends well.
Franco throwing strikes but missing.

Franco is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Dann is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Dann has escaped and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dann slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Franco isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Dann stacks Franco on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Dann!
Dann in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Dann thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Dann is chipping away with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dann decides to stand up, so the ref orders Franco to his feet.
Franco takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Dann throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Franco's waist but Franco gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dann off to one side.
Franco cracks Dann with a good jab.

Franco has managed to clinch.
Franco is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Franco throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Franco has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Dann regains guard immediately.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Franco trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Franco missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Franco wants to control from the top but Dann keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Franco tries to free his leg and advance position but Dann is retaining full guard.
Franco scoring with some ground and pound.
Franco passes Dann's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Dann has hold of a guillotine but he's not going to be able to crank on it really with only half guard, so it's no trouble for Franco. Oh but Dann has got full guard now! Oh boy! This one could be over very soon! Franco goes limp - he's gone! Dann jumps up and celebrates with the crowd - fantastic submission finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Brian Dann!