PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josh McCuistion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Francis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McCuistion comes to the cage accompanied by Sunken Hips in Space. Francis is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Toxicity. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

McCuistion
vs
Francis

163 cm
22
217 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

182 cm
25
216 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Solid chin

Pacheco Labratories Inc

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh McCuistion!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Francis!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McCuistion gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
McCuistion could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Francis is fighting off a takedown attempt but McCuistion is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Francis to the mat. Francis regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
McCuistion might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Francis keeping moving, preventing McCuistion from controlling successfully.

Francis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
McCuistion wants to control from the top but Francis keeps moving.
McCuistion preventing the sweep.
Francis manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McCuistion manages to get himself to full guard.
Francis is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
McCuistion manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
McCuistion throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Francis is looking to improve his position but McCuistion isn't that keen on the idea.
McCuistion lands a big shot there that rocks Francis but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCuistion thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Francis is wriggling around trying to escape.
McCuistion thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
McCuistion connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Francis keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Francis is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
McCuistion cracks Francis with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
McCuistion looking to control but Francis is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Francis is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Francis is in all sorts of trouble here.
Francis slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Francis regains full guard. Nicely done.

Francis had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. McCuistion is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Francis Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take McCuistion's back instead.
McCuistion tries to escape the position.
Can McCuistion hold on?! Francis is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Francis tries to get the hooks in deep but McCuistion pushed the leg off.
McCuistion trying to control the action but Francis just sinks the hooks in.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCuistion is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Francis is trying to stick to McCuistion's back but McCuistion is turning into Francis. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Francis's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by McCuistion.
McCuistion preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCuistion stands up over Francis, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Francis punching to the body, from the bottom.
Francis preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Francis throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Francis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Francis looks gassed!
McCuistion trying to control the position from guard on top but Francis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McCuistion preventing the sweep.

Francis looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
McCuistion has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Francis keeping full guard, as McCuistion tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCuistion is working hard here to advance position.
McCuistion passes into half guard.

Francis is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but McCuistion pulls his head out easily.
McCuistion is nestled in close to Francis, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
McCuistion is nestled in close to Francis, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Francis punching from the bottom.
McCuistion landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
McCuistion drops an elbow to the side of Francis's head.
Francis is looking to improve his position.
McCuistion is trying to control the action in half guard but Francis is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Josh McCuistion will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Francis misses with a takedown attempt - McCuistion sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

McCuistion gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
McCuistion throws an elbow that misses.
Francis prevents a takedown attempt there.

McCuistion pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice takedown defense from McCuistion. No joy for Francis on that attempt.

McCuistion gets the takedown into side control.
McCuistion in side control lands a decent elbow.
Francis manages to work his way to half guard, despite McCuistion's best efforts.

McCuistion is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
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. McCuistion connects with a nice short shot to Francis's temple.
Francis works his way to full guard. Good work.
McCuistion wants to stand but Francis is controlling his posture from full guard.

Francis has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McCuistion can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Francis keeping moving, preventing McCuistion from controlling successfully.
Francis is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Francis scoring with strikes to the body and head.

McCuistion kicks Francis off and gets back to his feet.
Francis shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and McCuistion counters with a shoot takedown. Francis fights it but they end up in guard.
Josh McCuistion has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Francis.
McCuistion trying to control but Francis is working from the bottom.
McCuistion working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Francis keeping moving, preventing McCuistion from controlling successfully.
McCuistion in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Francis is trying to control the position but McCuistion postures up.

Francis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
McCuistion scoring with some ground and pound.
McCuistion stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Francis swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Francis tries for a takedown but McCuistion circles away easily

and McCuistion counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Francis being controlled here, momentarily.
Francis preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francis striking off his back but it's not causing McCuistion any problems.
McCuistion lands a couple of elbows.
Francis preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McCuistion working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
McCuistion tries to free his leg and advance position but Francis is retaining full guard.
Francis being controlled here, momentarily.
Francis is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
McCuistion is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
McCuistion regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Francis.
Francis prevents McCuistion from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Francis is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Francis chips away with some ground and pound.
McCuistion is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

McCuistion has his foot on Francis's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Francis works his way back into a safe position though.
McCuistion wants to get back to his feet but Francis is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Francis postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
McCuistion thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
McCuistion throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Francis lands a couple of digs.
McCuistion has momentary wrist control but Francis slips an elbow through the middle.
McCuistion managing to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh McCuistion dominated that second round.
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!

McCuistion shoots in and bounces Francis off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Francis keeping moving, preventing McCuistion from controlling successfully.
McCuistion stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Francis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McCuistion preventing the sweep.
Francis is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Francis drops an elbow to the side of McCuistion's head.
Francis lands strikes from half guard.
McCuistion works his way to full guard. Good work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McCuistion tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCuistion manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Francis manages to get himself to full guard.
Francis throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
McCuistion tries to free his leg and advance position but Francis is retaining full guard.
Francis keeping moving, preventing McCuistion from controlling successfully.
McCuistion throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Francis works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Francis will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
McCuistion trying to control the position from guard on top but Francis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Francis lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for McCuistion!

Francis goes for an armbar but he's not got it… McCuistion turns into him and now he's in Francis's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Francis doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
McCuistion trying to control the position from guard on top but Francis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Francis trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
McCuistion is looking to work some ground and pound but Francis has wrist control.
McCuistion stopping the sweep attempt from Francis.
McCuistion throwing strikes from guard but Francis blocks nicely.
Francis striking off his back, scoring a few points.
McCuistion stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Francis swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Francis fails with the takedown

and McCuistion decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Francis's guard.
McCuistion throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Francis works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
McCuistion throwing strikes but missing.
Francis keeping moving, preventing McCuistion from controlling successfully.
Steve Francis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McCuistion tries to free his leg and advance position but Francis is retaining full guard.
Francis has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Francis wants to sweep here but McCuistion controlling him for the moment.
Francis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McCuistion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCuistion sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Francis's guard.
McCuistion is trying to control the action in half guard but Francis is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

McCuistion has managed to clinch.
McCuistion wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

McCuistion manages to break the clinch.

McCuistion drives through with a takedown into guard.
Francis has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Francis lands with a heel strike from the guard.
McCuistion trying to control but Francis is working from the bottom.
McCuistion postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
McCuistion wants to control from the top but Francis keeps moving.
Josh McCuistion is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McCuistion thows a big elbow that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh McCuistion showed his dominance in that final round.
Well McCuistion 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 George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh McCuistion!