PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ftank Rank (ranked 4009 p4p, 25246 weight class) and Denzel Junior (ranked 249 p4p, 316 weight class). Ftank Rank had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 137.8lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Ftank Rank has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rank
vs
Junior

150 cm
26
148
2 - 2 - 0

178 cm
19
135
1 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ftank Rank!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Denzel Junior!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Percy O'Donnell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Junior shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Junior closes the distance but Rank moves to the side

and Rank counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rank controls from within his opponent's guard.
Junior is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rank slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rank tries to free his leg and advance position but Junior is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rank stands and throws Junior's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee asks Rank politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Rank prefers to stall for the moment though.
Junior is looking to regain half guard here but Rank keeps moving and retains side control.
Rank remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Rank has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Rank has hold of Junior's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Junior tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Rank cranks the arm and Junior screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Junior, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Ftank Rank!