PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Devlin Francis (ranked 4628 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean Sweeney (ranked 23059 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Francis
vs
Sweeney

169 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

218 cm
22
140 lbs
4 - 1 - 1

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Devlin Francis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sean Sweeney!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Wesley Smith and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sweeney fails with a takedown attempt.
Francis misses with a combination
and Sweeney counters with a two punch combo.
Sweeney has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
No joy there for Francis, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sweeney tries to counter with a clinch but Francis shakes him off and moves away.
Francis displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sweeney.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Francis throws a nice looking combination but Sweeney bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sweeney throws a right and a left that Francis avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Francis will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sweeney slips a jab and a cross from Francis.
Francis throws a nice looking combination but Sweeney bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sweeney tries to score a power double leg takedown but Francis sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sweeney somewhat.
Francis throws a big counter combination but Sweeney scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Devlin Francis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sean Sweeney.
Francis throws a body shot but no joy.

Sweeney gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Francis to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Francis might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Francis wants to pass the guard but Sweeney is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sweeney lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Sweeney keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Francis's head.
Sweeney loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sweeney throwing strikes from guard but Francis blocks nicely.

Sweeney gets to his feet - Francis follows without any prompting.
Francis throws a right hand that Sweeney ducks under and follows up with a left that Sweeney also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sweeney shoots in looking for a takedown but Francis manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sweeney's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Francis avoids the body shot from Sweeney.
Francis misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sweeney will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Francis went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Francis throws a series of punches but Sweeney moves out of range.
Francis leaves Sweeney with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Francis throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Francis takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Francis misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Francis. No joy for Sweeney on that attempt.
Sweeney shoots in looking for a takedown but Francis manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sweeney's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Francis stuffs the takedown.
It looked like Francis was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Sweeney.
Sweeney fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Francis went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Sweeney looks winded!
No luck for Sweeney with that takedown attempt.
Sweeney throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Francis.
Sweeney is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Francis goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Devlin Francis dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sweeney misses with a kick to the body
and Francis counters with a one-two to the body.
Devlin Francis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Francis stuffs the takedown attempt from Sweeney. Sweeney gets slowly back to his feet.
Sweeney slips a jab and a cross from Francis.
Sweeney shoots in for a takedown but Francis shows good takedown defense.
Francis throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sweeney shoots for a double leg takedown but Francis sprawls well. He's pushed Sweeney's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Devlin Francis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sean Sweeney.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck for Sweeney with that takedown attempt.
Francis appears to be looking for a big counter.
Francis misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sweeney gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Francis to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Francis with a nice head shot there.
Francis throws a big right hand that misses.
Francis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sweeney is on top in guard.

Sweeney content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Francis manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Sweeney prevents the takedown attempt.

Sweeney pulls guard.
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!
Francis looking to pass the guard.
Devlin Francis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Francis preventing the sweep.
Sweeney is trying to keep Francis in close.
Sweeney wants to sweep here but Francis controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francis tries to free his leg and advance position but Sweeney is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Francis stopping the sweep attempt from Sweeney.
Francis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sweeney swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Francis won't allow Sweeney to sweep him here.
Sweeney has a closed guard, preventing Francis from standing up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Sweeney bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Francis's guard.

Sweeney is breathing heavily.
Sweeney is working Francis over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sweeney loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sweeney tries to stand but Francis is controlling from the bottom.
Sweeney has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Francis wants to stand and escape but Sweeney is having none of it.
Francis on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Francis tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sweeney with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sweeney missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sweeney tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Francis defends well and Sweeney ends up having to push Francis into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Francis keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Francis stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Francis wants it to stay on the feet.

Francis looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Devlin Francis dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sweeney lands with a good body shot.

Francis feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Sweeney working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Francis.
Francis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sweeney has momentary wrist control but Francis slips an elbow through the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sweeney trying to control the position.
Sweeney wants to stand and escape but Francis is having none of it.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sweeney holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sweeney striking from the bottom here.
Sweeney trying to control the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sweeney is on top in guard.

Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sweeney's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Francis wants to stand up but Sweeney is controlling him.
Sweeney throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sweeney with a nice head shot there.
Francis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Francis wants to stand but Sweeney is controlling the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A punch combination from Francis misses.
Sweeney shoots in but no luck this time.
Sweeney misses with a takedown attempt - Francis sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Francis looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Francis slaps away a takedown attempt from Sweeney, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A quick step to the side and Francis tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Devlin Francis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sean Sweeney.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sweeney misses with a takedown attempt

and Francis counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Sweeney won't allow Francis to pass to mount.
Sweeney trying to control but Francis postures up.
Sweeney is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Francis's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Francis's back!
Sweeney misses with an elbow to the head.
Sweeney throwing damaging strikes from the back! Francis could be in trouble here!

Sweeney looking for the choke but no joy.
Francis is trying to get back to his feet but Sweeney has full control of the position and if anything, Francis has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Francis knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sweeney on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sweeney is striking well from the back but Francis escapes and manages to control the positon and works his way to half guard. A much better position - the crisis is over for the time being.
Francis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sweeney can do to turn this around?
Francis avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sweeney.
Sean Sweeney has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Devlin Francis is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sweeney winds up and cracks Francis with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Devlin Francis.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Francis, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Devlin Francis!