PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yrock Shinsaku (ranked 5715 p4p, 6727 weight class) and Deveron Francis (ranked 674 p4p, 746 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.

Shinsaku
vs
Francis

189 cm
19
202
1 - 1 - 0

183 cm
19
185
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Yrock Shinsaku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Deveron Francis!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Atkins and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Francis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shinsaku throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Francis tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Shinsaku rushes Francis and presses him up against the cage.
Shinsaku lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Shinsaku lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Shinsaku has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Shinsaku tries to throw a body punch but Francis avoids it by throwing Shinsaku back against the cage.
Shinsaku lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Francis tries to pull guard but Shinsaku forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Shinsaku doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Shinsaku.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Francis.
A short left from Shinsaku.

It looks like Deveron Francis has been cut.
Francis prevents a body shot from Shinsaku.
Francis jumps guard but Shinsaku stands there with Francis around his waist. Francis gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Francis fails to pull guard.
Yrock Shinsaku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Deveron Francis.
Francis blocks an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinsaku misses with a short punch on the inside.
Francis tries to pull guard but Shinsaku forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Shinsaku throws a punch but it's blocked by Francis.
Shinsaku swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Francis blocks an uppercut.
Francis is trying to pull guard but Shinsaku has him pressed against the cage.
Shinsaku tries to throw a body punch but Francis avoids it by throwing Shinsaku back against the cage.
Francis tries to pull guard but Shinsaku holds him up against the cage and eventually Francis drops back down to his feet.
Francis tries to pull guard but Shinsaku forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Shinsaku lands a nice uppercut.
Francis fails to pull guard.
Francis tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Shinsaku lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Francis jumps guard but Shinsaku stands there with Francis around his waist. Francis gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Shinsaku throws a punch but it's blocked by Francis.
Francis prevents a body shot from Shinsaku.
Francis jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Shinsaku walks away with a smile on his face. Francis gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
An inside leg kick lands from Shinsaku.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shinsaku forces Francis back against the cage and clinches.
Shinsaku lands a hook that snaps the head of Francis backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Shinsaku fails to land.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Francis is trying to pull guard but Shinsaku turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Francis blocks an uppercut.

Shinsaku breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shinsaku throws a front kick aimed at Francis's knee but Francis avoids it well.
Shinsaku swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Shinsaku tries a head kick but it misses.
Shinsaku misses with a wild body shot.
Shinsaku with a nice calf kick.

Francis darts in and clinches Shinsaku up against the cage.

Shinsaku breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Francis takes the fight into the clinch.
Shinsaku misses with a hook to the ribs.
Francis tries to pull guard but Shinsaku won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francis is trying to pull guard but Shinsaku turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Shinsaku breaks the clinch.
Shinsaku scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Francis doesn't manage to clinch there - Shinsaku circles away.

Shinsaku gets tackled into the cage by Francis. Francis maintains the clinch.
Francis tries to pull guard but Shinsaku won't allow it.
Shinsaku lands with a left to the head.
Francis jumps guard but Shinsaku stands there with Francis around his waist. Francis gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Shinsaku gets through Francis's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Shinsaku working aggressively here.
Shinsaku working aggressively here.
Shinsaku lands a right hand that snaps the head of Francis backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Shinsaku.
A head punch on the inside from Shinsaku fails to land.
Francis tries to pull guard but Shinsaku won't allow it.
Francis fails to pull guard.
Shinsaku lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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 jumps guard but Shinsaku stands there with Francis around his waist. Francis gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Francis is trying to pull guard but Shinsaku has him pressed against the cage.
Francis tries to pull guard but Shinsaku won't allow it.
Francis is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Shinsaku to keep the fight standing.
Francis is trying to pull guard but Shinsaku has him pressed against the cage.

Shinsaku breaks from the clinch.
A jab from Shinsaku does it's job there.
Shinsaku throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Shinsaku forces Francis back against the cage and clinches.
Francis is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Shinsaku to keep the fight standing.
Shinsaku lands a body punch.
Francis looks winded!
Shinsaku lands a nice uppercut.
Francis tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Shinsaku just stands there and leans against the cage.
Francis fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Shinsaku lands a nice uppercut.
Francis tries to pull guard but Shinsaku won't allow it.
Shinsaku lands a right hand.

Francis is rocked!

That has opened up Deveron Francis's cut even more.
Shinsaku scores with a nice hook to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yrock Shinsaku dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Deveron Francis's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Shinsaku connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Shinsaku takes a swing at Francis's ribcage but misses.
Francis wants to clinch.
Shinsaku throws a leg kick that misses.
Shinsaku circles away from the clinch attempt.
Francis ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Shinsaku throws a low kick but Francis moves out of range easily.
Shinsaku throws a head kick but Francis moves out of range.
Francis tries to clinch but Shinsaku moves out of range.
Shinsaku half committed to a counter leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Shinsaku.
Francis steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Shinsaku.
Francis steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Shinsaku.

Francis gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Francis jumps guard but Shinsaku turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Francis tries to pull guard but Shinsaku won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinsaku throws a punch but it's blocked by Francis.
Shinsaku has a couple of punches blocked by Francis.

Shinsaku manages to break the clinch.
Yrock Shinsaku seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Francis closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Francis jumps guard but Shinsaku turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Yrock Shinsaku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Deveron Francis.

Francis gets control of Shinsaku's arms and successfully pulls guard. Francis will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Shinsaku is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Francis can do anything to dispel that myth.
Shinsaku wants to control from the top but Francis keeps moving.

Francis is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Shinsaku got a little sloppy there for a moment and Francis has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Shinsaku has managed to get both his arms back between Francis's legs - danger averted.
Shinsaku lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shinsaku is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Shinsaku continues to stall.

Francis working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Shinsaku has passed into half guard!
Shinsaku moves into full mount! Francis won't be happy about that!
Francis felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinsaku takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
More hug and hope from Shinsaku.
Francis is working to get back to half guard.
Francis throwing hammer fists to the chest of Shinsaku. What's that going to do exactly?
Shinsaku looking to control but Francis is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Francis tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shinsaku tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Francis tries to lock up and control but Shinsaku gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Shinsaku is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Francis can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shinsaku tries to control but Francis wriggling away.
Francis really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Shinsaku breaks from Francis's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Shinsaku controlling the position easily from mount.
Francis is squirming around, avoiding Shinsaku's attempts to control the action.
Francis is wriggling around trying to escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shinsaku tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yrock Shinsaku dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Deveron Francis's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Shinsaku forces Francis back against the cage and clinches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Shinsaku.
Francis is trying to pull guard but Shinsaku turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Francis is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Shinsaku to keep the fight standing.
Francis tries to pull guard but Shinsaku won't allow it.
Yrock Shinsaku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Deveron Francis.
Francis tries to pull guard but Shinsaku forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Shinsaku manages to break the clinch.
Shinsaku misses with a low kick.
Shinsaku looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Francis gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Francis tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Shinsaku lands a right hand.
Francis jumps guard but Shinsaku turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Shinsaku goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Francis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Francis fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinsaku working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Shinsaku breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shinsaku does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Shinsaku tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Francis slips under a jab from Shinsaku.
Francis tries to close the distance and clinch but Shinsaku swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Yrock Shinsaku is winning the standup battle so far.
Francis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shinsaku misses with a leg kick.
Shinsaku just misses with a punch to the body.
Francis checks a leg kick.

Francis pushes Shinsaku up against the cage in a clinch.
Shinsaku misses with the head strike.

Francis pulls Shinsaku into guard.

Francis looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Shinsaku passes into side control.
Yrock Shinsaku overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Francis misses with a strike from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Francis tries to bench press Shinsaku off him but Shinsaku keeps the position.
Francis wants to control but Shinsaku postures up.
Shinsaku wants to lay and pray for a moment but Francis keeps working.
Shinsaku working away.
Francis is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Shinsaku is staying active.
Shinsaku staying calm.
Francis misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Francis tries to strike but it doesn't land.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shinsaku wants to control but Francis is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shinsaku content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Yrock Shinsaku is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Francis striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Francis tries to buck Shinsaku off but Shinsaku is having none of it.
Shinsaku wants to control but Francis is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Shinsaku is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Francis is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Shinsaku scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Shinsaku has closed the distance and engaged Francis in a clinch.
Francis jumps guard but Shinsaku turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Francis is trying to pull guard but Shinsaku has him pressed against the cage.
Shinsaku scores with a shoulder strike.
Shinsaku tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Francis tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Shinsaku just stands there and leans against the cage.
Shinsaku working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Francis tries to pull guard but Shinsaku forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Deveron Francis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shinsaku lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Francis backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yrock Shinsaku showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Shinsaku 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:26
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:26
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yrock Shinsaku!
A victorious Yrock Shinsaku thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.