PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gene Franco (ranked 4412 p4p, 554 weight class) and Tito Ortiz (ranked 4836 p4p, 583 weight class). Tito Ortiz struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 206.1lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Franco
vs
Ortiz

200 cm
26
220 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

190 cm
26
226 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

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 2 - 1 - 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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tito Ortiz !
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Thiago Cunha and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franco keeps the fight on the outside.
Ortiz has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Ortiz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ortiz throws a hook but Franco blocks it.

Ortiz changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Franco looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Franco is trying to improve his position.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Franco tries to improve position but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ortiz working away.

Ortiz decides to stand up, so the ref orders Franco to his feet.
Franco looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ortiz is fending him off so far but Franco persists. Nope, Ortiz circles away and we're back to standing.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortiz has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Ortiz has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Franco clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Franco is looking to stand back up. He's having to work hard to escape but eventually he manages it.

Franco gets caught flat footed, as Ortiz shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Franco pushes Ortiz off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
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!

Ortiz closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Franco's guard.
Ortiz controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Franco managing to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ortiz tries to free his leg and advance position but Franco is retaining full guard.
Franco can't keep his opponent in guard - Ortiz advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Franco looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco wants to get back to full guard.
Franco manages to get to full guard.
Franco wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Ortiz manages to pass to side control.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ortiz connects with a nice short shot to Franco's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Still in half guard, Ortiz seems content to control.

Ortiz is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Franco defends it well.
Ortiz is trying to control. Franco wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Franco wants to improve his position but Ortiz is controlling well.
Ortiz is trying to control. Franco wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tito Ortiz will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ortiz keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gene Franco is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ortiz has closed the distance and engaged Franco in a clinch.
Ortiz stalling against the cage.

Ortiz gets control of Franco's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ortiz will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Ortiz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Franco throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ortiz is adopting a defensive guard.
Ortiz 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco trying to control but Ortiz is working from the bottom.
Franco is really struggling to control Ortiz but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Ortiz punching from the bottom - just letting Franco know he's still in a fight.
Franco postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Franco fails in his attempt to clinch.
A nice side step and Ortiz releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Franco connects with the punch.
Ortiz shoots and misses

and Franco counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Franco gets control of Ortiz 's arms and successfully pulls guard. Franco will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Ortiz is stalling in the full guard.
Ortiz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ortiz trying to control the position from guard on top but Franco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ortiz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Franco tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ortiz controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Franco is trying to keep Ortiz in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Franco dives in and grabs Ortiz 's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ortiz pushes down on Franco's head and hops out.
Nice sprawl there from Ortiz as Franco shoots in.
Ortiz is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gene Franco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ortiz throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Franco sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Ortiz gets a takedown into half guard.

Franco pushes Ortiz off and gets back to his feet.

Ortiz closes the distance and clinches.
Franco tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ortiz just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ortiz breaks from the clinch.
Franco shoots in looking for a takedown but Ortiz manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Franco's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Ortiz looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Franco!
Franco prevents Ortiz from moving into mount.
Ortiz working away.
Franco is trying to get back to half guard.
Franco is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
We've been hearing good reports from Franco's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ortiz trying to control the position but Franco is working away.

Ortiz wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Franco, who protects the arm well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tito Ortiz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Ortiz keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ortiz takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Ortiz has Franco up against the cage in a clinch.

Ortiz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ortiz fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Franco to the ground. Ortiz is now in Franco's guard.

Franco is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Ortiz lands a shoulder strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Ortiz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ortiz misses with a takedown

and Franco counters by clinching up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franco escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Franco bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Franco shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ortiz as he avoids it easily.
Franco fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gene Franco. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ortiz rushes Franco and presses him up against the cage.
Ortiz tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Franco avoids it.
Ortiz goes for a takedown in the clinch but Franco prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco can't get the takedown.
Franco fails to pull guard.
A bit of stalling here from Franco.
Franco tries to pull guard but Ortiz won't allow it.
Franco is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Franco is trying to force a seperation but Ortiz has the dominant position.
Franco stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Franco goes for a takedown attempt but Ortiz pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ortiz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Ortiz misses with a takedown attempt - Franco sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nice sprawl there from Ortiz as Franco shoots in.
Tito Ortiz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Franco looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Ortiz instigates a clinch.

Ortiz tightens his grip and picks Franco up, before dumping him to the ground. Franco manages to land in guard.
Ortiz seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco trying to keep a closed guard but Ortiz is proving a slippery customer.
Ortiz content to stall in guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Franco is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Ortiz lands a nice uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tito Ortiz .
I've got Ortiz 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tito Ortiz !