TPC: Fight Night #1 PBP Commentary

Undercard bout

Co-main event

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Steamboat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Louis Francego (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steamboat comes to the cage accompanied by Lorde - Tennis Court. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Steamboat
vs
Francego

180 cm
25
217 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

210 cm
25
212 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)
Worldwide Nutrition (160q)

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricky Steamboat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Louis Francego!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Mauricio Rocha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Steamboat drives through with a takedown into Francego's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Francego looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Francego seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Steamboat trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Francego controlling Steamboat's posture.
Steamboat trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Steamboat landing with the ground and pound.
Francego controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steamboat looking to pass the guard.
Steamboat missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Steamboat pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Francego is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steamboat won't allow Francego to sweep him here.
Francego keeping full guard, as Steamboat tries to pass.
Steamboat could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
We've been hearing that Steamboat has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Steamboat makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Steamboat postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Francego is looking for a triangle but Steamboat pushes his legs off easily.
Steamboat stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Francego swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Steamboat passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Steamboat tries to score with some ground and pound. Francego controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Francego is working to avoid the ground and pound but Steamboat connects with a decent elbow.
Steamboat lands a decent elbow from side control.
Steamboat lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Steamboat works to advance to full mount. Francego defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Steamboat lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Francego hang on?
Francego taking shots to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
BOOM! Steamboat connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steamboat scoring with strikes but Francego is staying in there.
Francego looks winded!
Francego tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Francego really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Steamboat. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
A nice elbow there by Steamboat.

Francego is rocked!
Steamboat looking to finish Francego with some ground and pound. This is bad for Francego!
Francego is still in real trouble! Can Steamboat finish him?
Steamboat lands a couple of good shots and Francego has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Steamboat lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Steamboat is raining down hard shots and and Francego has had enough - he's tapped out due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Ricky Steamboat!
Ricky Steamboat seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.