PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rogerio De Souza (ranked 2978 p4p, 360 weight class) and Luiz Franca (ranked 750 p4p, 105 weight class). Franca comes into a darkened arena with his song building. The Greatest Showman kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Rogerio De Souza could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Luiz Franca's chin.

De Souza
vs
Franca

190 cm
22
196 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

188 cm
29
185 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rogerio De Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Luiz Franca!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Sosuke Kotani and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De Souza lands a right hook to the body.
De Souza throws a lazy right hand but Franca sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Franca tries for a takedown but De Souza sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Franca shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. De Souza is trying to defend but Franca finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

De Souza looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Franca is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. De Souza doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Franca.

Franca is trying to work for a kimura but De Souza is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franca throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing De Souza to regain full guard.

De Souza is looking for a triangle but Franca pushes his legs off easily.

De Souza throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Franca throws a strike but De Souza rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Franca has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but De Souza has passed into side control.
Franca sneaks back into half guard.
De Souza passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Franca!
Franca sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
De Souza has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franca gets full guard.
De Souza passes Franca's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Franca is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
De Souza wants to take a breather but Franca is having none of it.
Franca trying to get back to full guard but De Souza takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
De Souza prevents Franca from getting the reversal.

De Souza is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Franca to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Franca shrugs it off.
Franca is squirming around, avoiding De Souza's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Souza controlling the pace for now.
Franca is looking to improve his position but De Souza isn't that keen on the idea.
Franca manages to regain half guard. Good work.
De Souza trying to control the action but Franca is working from the bottom.
Franca is trying to get back to full guard.

De Souza is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Franca doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time De Souza.
De Souza seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Franca does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Franca works his way to full guard. Good work.
De Souza pushes down on Franca's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Franca manages to get to full guard.
Franca looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Franca keeping moving, preventing De Souza from controlling successfully.
De Souza tries to free his leg and advance position but Franca is retaining full guard.

Franca escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. De Souza gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
De Souza forces his way into half guard.
Franca is looking to improve his position.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Franca slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Franca manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. De Souza manages to get himself to full guard.

Franca throws an elbow that misses. De Souza uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Franca's guard. Nice move by De Souza!

De Souza trying to control the position from guard on top but Franca is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
De Souza stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Franca swivels though and keeps the full guard.
De Souza stopping the sweep attempt from Franca.
De Souza trying to control the position from guard on top but Franca is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
De Souza slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
De Souza passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Franca is not content to let De Souza control the position.
Franca manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
De Souza wants to control but Franca is keeping him busy.
De Souza perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Franca wants to improve his position but De Souza is controlling well.
De Souza is controlling the pace.
Franca wants to improve his position but De Souza is controlling well.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

De Souza is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
De Souza prevents Franca from improving his position.
De Souza uses his free foot to push down on Franca's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Franca.
Franca manages to regain half guard. Good work.

De Souza seems to be looking for submissions.
Franca is looking to improve his position.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

De Souza is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Franca sees it coming and defends easily.

De Souza is working for a kimura but Franca is defending it quite comfortably.

De Souza is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Franca tries to roll over but De Souza keeps him under control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Franca manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Franca bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in De Souza's guard.

Franca scoring with punches to the head and body.

Franca stands over his opponent and dives in with a flying punch! De Souza throws up his legs and catches Franca in a triangle! Oh this looks tight! Franca tries to escape but he's forced to tap! Wow, fantastic work there by De Souza! That came out of nowhere!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 9:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Rogerio De Souza!