PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ceaser El Toro Jr (ranked 337 p4p, 45 weight class) and Luiz Franca (ranked 1220 p4p, 165 weight class). Ceaser El Toro Jr has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

El Toro Jr
vs
Franca

174 cm
21
194 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

188 cm
28
185 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Big Tree's Vintage Wear ($15 shirts $20 shorts)
KOMBAT KLOTHING

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ceaser El Toro Jr!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Luiz Franca!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Yukihiro Shimada and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Franca shoots in and gets a takedown into El Toro Jr's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Franca pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. El Toro Jr is keeping the position for now.
El Toro Jr managing to control the position.
Franca advances to half guard.

Franca is looking for a kimura here.
El Toro Jr might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
El Toro Jr gets full guard.

Franca thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

El Toro Jr is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

El Toro Jr is looking for a triangle but Franca pushes his legs off easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

El Toro Jr looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

El Toro Jr has his foot on Franca's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Franca works his way back into a safe position though.
Franca stands and throws El Toro Jr's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Franca tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
El Toro Jr is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Franca's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Franca is working for a submission of some sort.
El Toro Jr 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 is really stuck here.
El Toro Jr keeps control of the position easily here as Franca tries to buck him off.
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.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
El Toro Jr's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Franca wants to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
El Toro Jr has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Franca's body.
Franca tries to escape the position.
A lull in the action here.
Franca wants to escape the position.
What can Franca do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Franca manages to reverse the position and now he's in El Toro Jr's guard. Nice work there by Franca.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

El Toro Jr looking for a guillotine here but Franca defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franca looking to pass the guard.
Franca is still trying to improve position.

El Toro Jr is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Franca passes El Toro Jr's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Franca looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
El Toro Jr is pressing down on Franca's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

El Toro Jr looking for a guillotine here but Franca defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

El Toro Jr working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Franca doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Franca manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Franca passes into half guard.

Franca is trying to work for a kimura but El Toro Jr is defending well.

Franca is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and El Toro Jr defends it well.
El Toro Jr is trying to get back to full guard.

El Toro Jr actively working from the bottom here.

Franca is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
El Toro Jr tries to get to full guard but Franca has control of the leg.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Franca seems to be working for a kimura but El Toro Jr defends the submission attempt.
El Toro Jr is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
El Toro Jr is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Can Factory, so we'll see if he gets out of it.

Franca is looking for a kimura here.
El Toro Jr gets full guard.
Franca trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

El Toro Jr looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Franca is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Franca drops back looking for a leg! El Toro Jr is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and El Toro Jr manages to kick Franca off! Franca jumps back into El Toro Jr's guard.
El Toro Jr keeping full guard, as Franca tries to pass.
Franca keeps trying to improve his position.

Franca avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

El Toro Jr is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Franca is aware though and is defending well.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Franca is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Franca stands and throws El Toro Jr's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Franca is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. El Toro Jr knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
You can see the frustration on El Toro Jr's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Franca swings around for an armbar but El Toro Jr sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Franca's guard.
Franca 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.
Franca has a closed guard, preventing El Toro Jr from standing up.
El Toro Jr wants to control from the top but Franca keeps moving.

Franca is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and El Toro Jr defends well.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Franca looking for a guillotine here but El Toro Jr defends easily.
Franca looks winded!
El Toro Jr controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
El Toro Jr has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Franca is proving hard to escape from.
Franca looking for a sweep. Not yet Franca, not yet.
El Toro Jr controlling from the top position.
Our spies down at at CrossFit Sydney inform us that Franca has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
El Toro Jr wanted to stand there but Franca had control of the position.
El Toro Jr is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Franca is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. El Toro Jr is aware though and is defending well.
El Toro Jr is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Franca working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. El Toro Jr doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. El Toro Jr manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
El Toro Jr would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Franca tries to score a power double leg takedown but El Toro Jr sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Franca somewhat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
El Toro Jr throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Franca.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ceaser El Toro Jr dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Franca misses with a takedown attempt
and El Toro Jr counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

It looks like Luiz Franca has been cut.
El Toro Jr lands a jab to Franca's midsection.
El Toro Jr lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Franca is rocked!
El Toro Jr throws a powerful right kick. Franca tried to block low but the kick was high! Franca was taken right off of his feet! El Toro Jr jumps in to finish the job and the ref tackles him! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:16 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Ceaser El Toro Jr!
Ceaser El Toro Jr retains his middleweight title!
A relieved looking Ceaser El Toro Jr thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.