PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yohan Francis (ranked 367 p4p, 372 weight class) and Erik Friedrichsen (ranked 52 p4p, 53 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Francis
vs
Friedrichsen

196 cm
34
249
21 - 10 - 0

200 cm
28
286
15 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Core Combat
Altitude Clothing

SynCity Fightwear
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yohan Francis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Erik Friedrichsen!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Francis throws a predictable looking body shot
and Friedrichsen counters with a nice uppercut.
Francis uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

It looks like Erik Friedrichsen has been cut.
Friedrichsen connects with a nice looking jab.
Francis throws a hook to the side of Friedrichsen's head but Friedrichsen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Good standup being displayed there by Francis as he connects with a hook.
Francis throws a jab when Friedrichsen was well out of range.
Yohan Francis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Francis steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Friedrichsen.
Friedrichsen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Donk. Friedrichsen catches Francis right on the button with a cross.
Francis looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Friedrichsen looks to land a left hand but Francis moved out of range nicely.
Francis looks to land a left hand but Friedrichsen moved out of range nicely.
Friedrichsen throws a right hand that misses
and Francis counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Friedrichsen pivots, looking for a leg kick but Francis is out of range and Friedrichsen settles back down.
Francis shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Friedrichsen lunges at Francis with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Francis's hand.
Friedrichsen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Francis on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A good leg kick by Friedrichsen.
Francis pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Francis moves into the clinch.

Francis pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Friedrichsen lands a leg kick that knocks Francis off balance momentarily.
Friedrichsen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Francis.
A cross from Francis lands.
Francis staying out of range there.
Francis throws an off balance right hand
and Friedrichsen counters with a right hand to the body.
Friedrichsen connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Francis momentarily.
Friedrichsen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Left hook, right uppercut from Friedrichsen.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A punch combination from Friedrichsen misses.
Friedrichsen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Francis.
Francis scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Friedrichsen doesn't seem bothered though.
Friedrichsen checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Francis takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Francis throws a hook but Friedrichsen avoids it easily.
Friedrichsen swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Friedrichsen paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Francis takes a jab right on the kisser.
Francis throws a poor cross that misses

and Friedrichsen counters with a head kick that drops Francis to the mat! Francis scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!

Francis is rocked!
Friedrichsen misses with a body shot.
Oh Francis is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Francis throws out a loose jab but Friedrichsen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Friedrichsen staying out of range there.
Francis seems to have got his legs back now.
Friedrichsen throws a low kick but it's checked well by Francis.
Francis is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Francis misses with a body shot.
Francis tries to bum rush Friedrichsen with a series of wild strikes but Friedrichsen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A slow jab from Friedrichsen misses its intended target.
Francis missing with a left hand there. Friedrichsen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Friedrichsen missing with a left hand there. Francis was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Friedrichsen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Francis uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Friedrichsen.
A looping hook to the body misses from Friedrichsen. Francis does a little dance to reset his feet.
An inside leg kick lands from Friedrichsen.
Friedrichsen attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Francis lands a big uppercut and Friedrichsen crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Friedrichsen looks OK. Francis waves Friedrichsen back to his feet!

Friedrichsen is rocked!

That has opened up Erik Friedrichsen's cut even more.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Friedrichsen walks into a picture perfect straight right hand from Francis! He's gone down face first to the canvas, unconscious before he even hit the floor! Ohhhh. My. Goodness! That boys and girls was a beautiful knockout! Give that man a biscuit!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:06 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Yohan Francis!
Yohan Francis took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Core Combat for their support in the buildup to the fight.
Erik Friedrichsen was interviewed post fight and said 'I am young. This is merely a slight delay'.