PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gene Franco (ranked 4155 p4p, 507 weight class) and Manuel Vasquez (ranked 24664 p4p, 744 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Franco
vs
Vasquez

200 cm
25
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
26
223 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gene Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Manuel Vasquez!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Thiago Cunha and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vasquez throws a leg kick

and Franco counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Franco.
Franco with a flurry of punches that miss.
Franco with a flurry of punches that miss.

Vasquez is working an open guard so Franco takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Vasquez.
Vasquez fails with a takedown attempt.
Vasquez misses with a takedown attempt - Franco sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Gene Franco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manuel Vasquez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franco blocks a head kick by Vasquez.

Franco shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Vasquez is trying to defend but Franco finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Franco has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Franco keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franco is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Vasquez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Franco.
Franco sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Vasquez defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Vasquez looks like he's trying to stand up.
Franco stalling.
Vasquez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Franco is working away from the top position though.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Franco stands up from half guard.

Franco pushes Vasquez up against the cage in a clinch.
Vasquez jumps guard but Franco stands there with Vasquez around his waist. Vasquez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Franco lands a takedown into guard.

Vasquez uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Franco gets a double leg takedown into Vasquez's guard.
Vasquez looking to control.
Franco advances to half guard.
Franco keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Vasquez keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Franco content to control rather than advance.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco prevents Vasquez from improving his position.
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!
Vasquez is trying to maintain the position but Franco is very close to passing his half guard.
Franco wants to free his trapped foot but Vasquez is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Franco passes the guard and advances to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Vasquez fails with a takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Franco.
Franco misses with a jab, cross combination.
Vasquez dodges the punch combination from Franco.
Franco pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vasquez fails in his attempt to clinch.

Franco decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Franco decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Franco keeps the fight on the outside.
Vasquez shoots in for a double leg but Franco sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Franco pushes Vasquez up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco blocks a body shot from Vasquez.

Franco breaks from the clinch.
Vasquez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Franco sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Franco is looking to counter with a body kick.
Gene Franco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manuel Vasquez.
Vasquez throws a low kick but Franco avoids it.

Vasquez has Franco up against the cage in a clinch.

Franco pulls guard effortlessly.
Vasquez trying to control but Franco is working from the bottom.
Franco is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Franco looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vasquez is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco has Vasquez pulled in close to control his posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Franco looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Franco working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vasquez.
Franco will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Franco pushes Vasquez off and gets back to his feet.
Horrible takedown attempt by Vasquez or perhaps it was just good defense by Franco, which made it look bad.

Franco clinches with his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Franco breaks from the clinch.

Franco has taken the fight to the clinch.

Franco is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Vasquez can't fight it off and eventually Franco manages to take the fight to the floor. Vasquez looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Franco stands up from Vasquez's guard - Franco perhaps looking for a knockout.
Franco throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Franco throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Vasquez was covering up waiting for the punch and Franco finishes the takedown easily into guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Franco's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vasquez throws a head kick that misses.

Franco fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Vasquez sprawls well initially but Franco persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Vasquez wants to get back to full guard.
Vasquez wants to get back to his feet.
Vasquez is in trouble now - Franco has advanced to mount!
Franco wants to take Vasquez's back but he can't do it this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gene Franco dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Franco keeps the fight on the outside.
No joy there for Vasquez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Franco avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Franco is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vasquez can do to turn this around?

Franco fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Vasquez sprawls well initially but Franco persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Franco trying to control the pace.
Franco seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Vasquez for as long as he can get away with.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franco sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Vasquez defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franco is working for a kimura but Vasquez is defending it quite comfortably.
Vasquez is trying to control but can't.
Franco blocks the strikes from Vasquez.
Franco lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Vasquez regains full guard. Nicely done.
Franco is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two 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 has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Vasquez trying to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Franco bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Vasquez tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Franco sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco landing shots from mount.

It looks like Manuel Vasquez has been cut.
Franco looking to ground and pound but Vasquez is blocking nicely.
Franco avoids the attempt from Vasquez to control.
Franco sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Franco landing strikes from the mount and Vasquez is in trouble!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Franco breaks from Vasquez's wrist control and lands an elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gene Franco showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Franco has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gene Franco!