PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Chad Franco (ranked 6783 p4p, 6352 weight class) and Romeo Davis (ranked 512 p4p, 489 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Davis's choice of entrance music: Goofy. Romeo Davis has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Chad Franco's chin.

Franco
vs
Davis

175 cm
22
145
0 - 1 - 0

165 cm
25
150
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Chad Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Romeo Davis!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Paul Gruel and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franco looking to land some kicks to the body here.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Franco.
Davis shoots in looking for a takedown. Franco tries to sprawl out of it but Davis keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Franco manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Franco misses with a kick to the body

and Davis counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Davis.

Franco pushes Davis off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Franco misses with a head kick.
Nice takedown defense from Franco. No joy for Davis on that attempt.
Davis takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Franco scores with a push kick.
Franco throws a sloppy head kick and Davis moves out of range easily.
Franco throws a head kick that misses.
Franco has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franco moves into range and clinches up with Davis.
Davis is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Franco gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Chad Franco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Romeo Davis.

Davis breaks the clinch.
Davis looks winded!
Davis is trying hard to land a takedown here. Franco sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Franco goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Franco scores with a kick to the midsection.

Davis fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Franco, pushing him back against the cage.
Franco digs a right hand underneath Davis's ribcage. Davis let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Franco escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Franco is trying hard to land a takedown here. Davis sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Franco tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Davis swivels and escapes.
Davis throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Franco's waist but Franco gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Davis off to one side.
A nice inside leg kick there by Franco. That's going to slow Davis down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Franco has taken the fight to the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Franco's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Franco plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Franco connects with a solid leg kick.
Davis tries to clinch but Franco is having none of it.
Franco throws a sloppy head kick

and Davis counters by clinching up.

Davis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Franco throws a head kick but Davis moves out of range.
Franco is trying hard to land a takedown here. Davis sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Davis tries to counter by closing the distance.
Franco takes a jab right on the kisser.
Franco throws a head kick that misses.
Davis looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Franco is fending him off so far but Davis persists. Nope, Franco circles away and we're back to standing.
Franco shoots for a takedown but Davis saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Franco fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis digs a good hook to Franco's body.
Davis lands with a slapping head kick.
Davis takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Franco has closed the distance and engaged Davis in a clinch.
Davis is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Franco gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Franco pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Franco throws a head kick that misses.
Davis drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Franco defends it well.
A head kick misses from Davis.
Franco bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

Franco darts in and clinches Davis up against the cage.
Davis gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Franco.

Davis drags the fight down to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davis preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Davis looking for a sweep. Not yet Davis, not yet.
Davis is trying to control the position but Franco postures up.
Franco is looking to work some ground and pound but Davis has wrist control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Franco controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Franco slips nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Franco dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Davis is trying to drag Franco to the mat but Franco just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Franco.
Franco tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Davis avoids it.
Franco is working Davis over against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Franco takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Davis scores with a shot to the side of Franco's head.
Franco avoiding damage.
Davis tries to pull guard but Franco holds him up against the cage and eventually Davis drops back down to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco can't find room to land a body shot as Davis controls the action.
Franco scores with a shoulder strike.
Franco tries a body shot but Davis blocks it.
Franco leaning his opponent against the cage.

Franco breaks from the clinch.

Franco has Davis up against the cage in a clinch.
Franco makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Chad Franco has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Franco is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Franco manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco shoots in looking for a takedown but Davis manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Franco's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Franco drives through and clinches with Davis against the cage.

Davis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Franco tries a head kick but it misses.
Franco turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Franco is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Davis shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Franco is looking to counter with head kicks.
Chad Franco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Romeo Davis.
Davis is breathing heavily.
Franco throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Franco throws a body kick that misses.
Davis tries to score a power double leg takedown but Franco sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Davis somewhat.
Franco throws a counter high kick but Davis was just alert enough to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Franco breaks from the clinch.
Davis throws a sloppy head kick and Franco moves out of range easily.
Davis stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Davis wants it to stay on the feet.
Chad Franco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A combination from Franco does no damage.
Chad Franco is winning the standup battle so far.
Davis wants to clinch
and Franco counters with a big head kick but Davis shrugs it off.
Franco changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Davis tries to avoid it but Franco manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Davis to the ground. Davis escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Davis shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Franco throws a sloppy head kick
and Davis counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Franco displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Davis.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco tries a head kick but it misses.
Franco is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Davis can do to turn this around?
Franco tries to close the distance and clinch but Davis swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Davis wants to counter the offense by Franco and move into the clinch position.

Davis 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.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Davis passes into half guard.

Franco makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Franco gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Franco wriggles free and stands up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Franco dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Davis drives through with a takedown into guard.

Franco looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Davis throws a strike but Franco rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Franco stands up from Davis's guard - Franco perhaps looking for a knockout.

Franco pushes Davis up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Franco breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Davis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Davis scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Franco scores with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Davis paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Davis feints the counter takedown.
Davis tries a head kick but it misses.
Franco shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Davis sprawls well. Davis wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Franco gets slowly back to his feet.

Franco clinches up against the cage.
The referee calls for Franco to work.
A head punch on the inside from Franco fails to land.
Franco gets underhooks to prevent Davis's takedown attempt.
Davis is trying to drag Franco to the mat but Franco just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Chad Franco is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Franco escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Davis fails with the takedown
and Franco counters with a head kick. That will keep Davis thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Chad Franco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Romeo Davis.
Horrible takedown attempt by Franco or perhaps it was just good defense by Davis, which made it look bad.
Franco closes this distance looking for a takedown but Davis circles away.
Davis shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Franco but Franco pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A little feinted left hand from Franco on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Franco shoots for a takedown but Davis saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco scores with a head kick.
Davis throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Franco tries to score a power double leg takedown but Davis sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Franco somewhat.
Franco misses with a series of wild punches.

Davis takes the fight into the clinch.
Franco prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Davis tries to land knees in the clinch but Franco avoids the damage to the body.
Davis tries a body shot but Franco blocks it.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Davis jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Franco walks away with a smile on his face. Davis gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Davis is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chad Franco showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Franco 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chad Franco!
After winning the bout, Chad Franco thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
In defeat, Romeo Davis stepped up to the mic, saying 'Thots are evil its an L i can get better'.