PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rutger Petrov (ranked 862 p4p, 1000 weight class) and Yohan Francis (ranked 116 p4p, 135 weight class). Francis has chosen Andre Nickatine, Smoke Dope and Rap as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Petrov
vs
Francis

180 cm
30
245
6 - 0 - 0

196 cm
36
249
24 - 16 - 0

Great wrestler
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Warrior Fight Store

Voodoo Nutrition
Core Combat

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rutger Petrov !
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Yohan Francis!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Jonathan Paton and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Petrov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Francis has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

Petrov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Petrov blocks an uppercut.

Francis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Francis misses with a wild body shot.
Francis swings for the body but Petrov moves out of range.
Francis ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Petrov moves away.
Yohan Francis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Francis waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Petrov .
Francis tries to move into range but Petrov moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Francis's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Petrov connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Francis scrambles back to his feet.
Francis throws a shot to the body.
Petrov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A decent looking cross lands there for Francis.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Petrov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Petrov lands in his opponent's guard.
Francis wants to stand but Petrov is controlling the position.

Francis is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Petrov presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Petrov ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Petrov no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Francis seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Petrov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Francis defends it easily.

Petrov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Francis doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Francis manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Petrov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Francis avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Francis passes Petrov 's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Petrov wants to get back to full guard.

Petrov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Francis pulls his head out easily.
Francis keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Petrov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Francis decides to stand and escape the position.
Petrov has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Francis finds it's way round the side to connect with Petrov 's head.
Nice cross by Petrov .
The fighters circling - Francis throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Francis throws a big shot that misses.
Nice defenses there by Petrov .

Francis gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Petrov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Petrov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Francis swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrov stops Francis from standing up.

Petrov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Petrov drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Francis manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Petrov has Francis in his guard.

Petrov working for a triangle but Francis defends it easily.
Francis is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Let's hope that Francis has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Petrov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Francis gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Petrov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Francis is aware though and is defending well.
Francis looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Francis must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Francis's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Petrov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Francis is aware though and is defending well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Yohan Francis will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Petrov throws a shot from downtown. Francis moves away and avoids it.
Francis leaves Petrov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Petrov takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Petrov ducks straight into an uppercut from Francis and tumbles to the canvas! It’s a flash knockdown though - Petrov manages to regain guard straight away.

It looks like Rutger Petrov has been cut.

Petrov working for a triangle but Francis defends it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Francis advances position into side control!
Yohan Francis has got the better of the ground game so far.

Francis stands up.
Francis connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Francis misses with a wild body shot.
Francis looks to land a right hand but Petrov moved out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Francis throws a shot from downtown. Petrov moves away and avoids it.
Petrov tries to clinch but Francis is having none of it.
Francis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Petrov shoots in for a takedown but Francis shows good takedown defense.

Petrov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Francis is trying to buck Petrov off.

Francis throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Yohan Francis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Francis walks into a straight right hand from Petrov .
Petrov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Francis.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petrov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Petrov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Petrov is countered with a crisp right hand from Francis that sends him to the canvas! Francis follows him to the mat into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rutger Petrov . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Petrov is trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Francis slows the pace down.

Francis decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Petrov moves out of range as Francis strikes.
Francis pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Petrov tries to clinch but Francis moves out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Francis. No joy for Petrov on that attempt.
Francis appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Francis moves out of range as Petrov strikes.
Petrov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Francis is fending him off so far but Petrov persists. Nope, Francis circles away and we're back to standing.
Petrov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Petrov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Francis, pushing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Francis.

Francis breaks from the clinch.
Petrov on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Francis moves into range and throws a big uppercut. OH! Petrov goes down! Can Francis finish him!?

Petrov is rocked!
Francis slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Oh Petrov is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Francis decides to stand back up. Francis steps back and let's Petrov get back to his feet.
Francis moves away from the strike by Petrov .
Petrov drops his hands momentarily. Francis doesn't need a second invitation, landing a shot to the temple. Petrov staggers and falls to the mat and the ref dives in to save him from any more punishment. Petrov doesn't seem happy with the stoppage but he was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Yohan Francis!
Yohan Francis is the new heavyweight champion!
After the fight, Yohan Francis was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.