PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Luiz Franca (ranked 1628 p4p, 213 weight class) and Jonathon Crane (ranked 4504 p4p, 483 weight class). Jonathon Crane has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Franca
vs
Crane

188 cm
26
185 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

200 cm
19
197 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Luiz Franca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jonathon Crane!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shigeki Sano and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franca misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Crane throws a counter combo.
Crane throws a right and a left that Franca avoids nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Crane. No joy for Franca on that attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Crane. No joy for Franca on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luiz Franca. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franca avoids the head kick by Crane.

Crane tries to sprawl but Franca drives through with a takedown into half guard.
We've been hearing that Franca has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

Franca is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Crane is just riding it out for now. Franca eventually gives up the hold.
Crane wants to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franca thows a huge punch but Crane dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franca is working for a submission of some sort.
Franca tries to pass the half guard into mount. Crane knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Crane is concentrating on defense, preventing Franca from advancing position.
Franca lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Crane tries to roll over but Franca keeps him under control.
Crane trying to control but Franca postures up.

Franca seems to be looking for submissions.
Crane keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Crane is pressing down on Franca's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Crane avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Franca stands and throws Crane's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Franca working the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crane sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Crane is defending against the submission attempts here by Franca.

Franca is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Crane is just riding it out for now. Franca eventually gives up the hold.
Franca looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Crane with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Crane is pressing down on Franca's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Franca might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Franca won't allow Crane to sweep him here.
Crane is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Franca passes into half guard.
Crane wants to improve his position but Franca is controlling well.
Crane is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franca thows a huge punch but Crane dodges it nicely.
Crane wants to get back to his feet.
Crane blocking the ground and pound attempt from Franca.

Franca is trying to work for a kimura but Crane is defending well.
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.

Franca is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Crane has managed to free his arm - good work.
Franca missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Crane has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Franca is working away from the top position though.

Franca seems to be looking for submissions.

Franca is looking for a kimura here.
Franca thows a huge punch but Crane dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franca working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Franca is looking for a kimura but Crane is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Franca to get the leverage.
Crane is pressing down on Franca's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Crane is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Crane wants to lay and pray for a moment but Franca keeps working.

Crane stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Franca to get to his feet.
Franca dives in and grabs Crane's left leg, looking for a takedown. Crane pushes down on Franca's head and hops out.
Crane is looking for the big counter here.
Crane throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Franca.

Franca closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Crane is trying to improve his position.

Franca is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Crane is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Franca looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Franca is trying to get an arm triangle but Crane is defending well.
Crane pushes Franca away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Franca gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Crane gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Franca drops an elbow to the side of Crane's head.

Franca is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Franca uses his free foot to push down on Crane's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Crane.
Crane tries to lock up and control but Franca gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Crane is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Franca landing punches.
Franca prevents Crane from getting the reversal.
Crane keeps trying to improve his position.
Franca postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Crane looks a forlorn figure.
Crane sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Crane looks winded!

Franca is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Crane is looking to improve his position.
Franca scoring with strikes to the body and head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Franca missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Franca 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.
Franca thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Crane's head.
Crane tries to get to full guard but Franca has control of the leg.
Franca not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Franca is looking for a kimura here.
Crane tries to roll over but Franca keeps him under control.
Franca wants to pass the guard but Crane is defending well.

Franca is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Crane is just riding it out for now. Franca eventually gives up the hold.
Crane blocking the ground and pound attempt from Franca.
Franca not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Franca is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Crane has managed to free his arm - good work.

Franca is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Franca is pressing down on Crane's thigh, looking to free his foot. Crane is holding on for now.
Crane wants to get back to full guard.
Franca thows a huge punch but Crane dodges it nicely.

Franca is trying to work for a kimura but Crane is defending well.
Crane is looking for a sweep. Franca is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Franca is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Crane is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Franca's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Franca's back!
Crane lands a shot to the head.
Franca tries to escape but Crane has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Crane tries to get the hooks in deep but Franca pushed the leg off.
You can see the frustration on Franca's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Will Crane go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Crane really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Franca.
You can see the frustration on Franca's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Crane doesn't have the hooks in and Franca manages to turn into his guard.
Franca throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Crane is controlling Franca's posture.
Franca landing some decent shots from guard.
Crane is trying to keep Franca in close.
Crane wants to stand up but Franca is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luiz Franca dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Crane stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Crane wants it to stay on the feet.
Franca fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Crane throws a right and a left that both miss.
Franca will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luiz Franca. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franca dives in for a single leg takedown but Crane sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the ropes.
Franca shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Crane as he avoids it easily.
Crane lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Franca goes for a double leg but Crane avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the ropes as Crane continues to drive forward.
Franca shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Crane defends it nicely.
Crane is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franca with a poor takedown
and Crane counters with a right hand to the body.
Franca shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Crane defends it nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franca closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Crane quickly recovers to half guard.
Franca is thwarting Crane's attempts to control the position.
Crane is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Franca's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Franca's back!
Franca tries to break free.
Franca tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Franca really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Crane trying to control but Franca is having none of it.
Crane tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Crane looking to control but Franca is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franca is in all sorts of trouble here.
Franca is working hard here to advance position.
Crane wants to control the pace but Franca is squirming around nicely.
Franca really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Crane can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Franca is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crane takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Crane looking to control but Franca is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Franca is looking to get to half guard.
Crane controlling from the full mount.
Franca is squirming around, avoiding Crane's attempts to control the action.
Franca is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franca is squirming around, avoiding Crane's attempts to control the action.
Crane controlling from mount.
Crane prevents Franca from getting the reversal.
Crane trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Crane controlling from the full mount.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Crane tries to control but Franca wriggling away.
Franca is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Crane looking to control but Franca is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Franca is looking to get to half guard.
Crane can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Franca is looking to escape.
Franca tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Franca sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Franca is looking to improve his position.
Luiz Franca overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Crane passes the guard and advances to mount!
Crane prevents Franca from getting the reversal.
Crane controlling the pace for now.
Franca really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Crane wants to control the pace but Franca is squirming around nicely.
Franca is looking to improve his position but Crane isn't that keen on the idea.
Crane tries to control but Franca wriggling away.
Franca tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Crane content just to control the position here.
Franca is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Crane controlling from the full mount.
Franca tries to reverse the position but Crane maintains control.
Crane trying to control but Franca is having none of it.
Crane prevents Franca from getting the reversal.
Crane trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Franca keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Franca manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Crane wants to lay and pray for a moment but Franca keeps working.
The fighters are battling for position here. Franca manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Crane trying to control but Franca is working from the bottom.
Crane would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Franca is looking for a triangle but Crane pushes his legs off easily.
Franca wants to sweep here but Crane controlling him for the moment.
Crane wants to stand but Franca has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Franca looking for a sweep. Not yet Franca, not yet.
Franca keeping full guard, as Crane tries to pass.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jonathon Crane comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Jonathon Crane!
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Luiz Franca!
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Luiz Franca!

Luiz Franca wins by split decision!