PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Steve Buscemi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keith Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Buscemi might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Sopranos Theme. Franco is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Clobberin Time. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Buscemi
vs
Franco

165 cm
25
159 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

178 cm
21
164 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great low kicks
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Steve Buscemi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Keith Franco!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Viktor Lagutenko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franco on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Buscemi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Franco swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Franco's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Franco duly obliges.

Buscemi decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Franco regains full guard. Nicely done.
Franco avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Franco preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Buscemi passes into half guard.
Buscemi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Franco defending well though.
Buscemi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Buscemi is trying to control the action in half guard but Franco is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Buscemi stalling.
Buscemi passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Franco!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco tries to reverse the position but Buscemi maintains control.
Buscemi wants to control the pace but Franco is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Buscemi is trying to control here but Franco has managed to regain half guard.
Franco is staying active underneath Buscemi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Buscemi is looking to advance position but Franco won't allow it.
Franco is looking to escape.
Buscemi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Franco keeps working.
Franco is trying to stand back up but Buscemi is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Buscemi tries to clinch but Franco is having none of it.
Buscemi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Franco paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Buscemi tries to clinch up.
Franco loads up on a big right hand but Buscemi slips the punch.
Buscemi on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Franco throws a jab but it's blocked by Buscemi.

Buscemi 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.
Buscemi is looking to stand up but Franco won't let him.
Buscemi not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Buscemi postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Franco is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Buscemi, into his guard.
Franco wants to control from the top but Buscemi keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco won't allow Buscemi to get back to his feet.
Buscemi wants to sweep here but Franco controlling him for the moment.
Buscemi is working hard here to advance position.
Franco trying to control the position from guard on top but Buscemi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Buscemi wants to get back to his feet but Franco is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franco 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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Buscemi shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Buscemi was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Buscemi misses with a head shot.
Buscemi punching from mount but Franco doing a good job of avoiding damage.

Buscemi goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Franco is on top in guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Franco decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Buscemi dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Franco bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Franco throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Buscemi throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

It looks like Keith Franco has been cut.
Buscemi fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Franco.
Franco moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Buscemi gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Buscemi drives through with a takedown into guard.
Buscemi trying to control but Franco is working from the bottom.
Buscemi passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Buscemi tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Buscemi has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Franco is breathing heavily.
Franco defending against the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buscemi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Franco keeps working.
Buscemi fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Franco sneaks out the side door and pushes Buscemi away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Franco blocks a head kick by Buscemi.
Franco cracks Buscemi with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Buscemi throws a head kick that misses.
Keith Franco is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Buscemi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Franco scores with a jab to the jaw.
Buscemi slips a jab from Franco.
Buscemi avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Franco is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buscemi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Franco avoids it really well and circles away.

Buscemi scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Buscemi is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Franco is trying to stand up here but Buscemi is controlling him well.
Franco is refusing to be controlled, as Buscemi sits in half guard.
Buscemi trying to mount his opponent but Franco defends it.
Buscemi is stalling here. Franco is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Buscemi seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Franco has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco is looking to take a break and control but Buscemi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Buscemi is looking for a sweep.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Buscemi throws a head kick but Franco moves out of range.
Buscemi tries a head kick but it misses.
Buscemi tries to clinch up but Franco circles away and keeps his distance.
Buscemi throws a sloppy head kick and Franco moves out of range easily.
Franco lunges at Buscemi with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Buscemi's hand.
Franco has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Buscemi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Franco avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Buscemi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franco slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Franco throws a one two combo.
Buscemi shoots in and drives through. Franco sprawls well.
Franco cracks Buscemi with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Buscemi takes a jab right on the kisser.
Steve Buscemi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Buscemi shoots in but no luck this time.
Nice uppercut lands for Franco. That snapped Buscemi's head back.
Buscemi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Franco cracks Buscemi with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Franco pulls out of a head kick attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Franco throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Buscemi on the side of the head.
Franco keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Buscemi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Franco avoids it really well and circles away.
Buscemi takes one to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Franco showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Keith Franco's cut.
That's time! Buscemi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Buscemi takes one to the side of the head.
Franco tries to bum rush Buscemi with a series of wild strikes but Buscemi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Buscemi tries to clinch but Franco moves out of range.
Franco throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nice body punch from Franco.
Buscemi has a takedown stuffed.
Keith Franco seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Franco connects with a nice looking jab.
Buscemi walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Franco lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Buscemi dives in and grabs Franco's left leg, looking for a takedown. Franco pushes down on Buscemi's head and hops out.
Franco scores with a nice head shot.
Nice shot lands for Franco.
Franco connects with a single shot there.
Franco scores with a three punch combo!
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!
Franco scores with a jab to the body.
Franco throws a one two combo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Franco dips to his left and cracks Buscemi with an uppercut!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco lands a jab-cross combination.
Franco with a jab.
The crowd cheers as Franco lands an impressive looking overhand right. Buscemi doesn't seem phased though.
Franco lands with a good body shot.
Buscemi tries for a takedown but Franco sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Buscemi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franco closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Franco bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Buscemi's head backwards.
Buscemi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Franco swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Buscemi throws a head kick but Franco moves out of range.
Franco lands with a slapping head kick.
Buscemi takes a jab right on the kisser.
Jab by Franco.
Franco avoids the head kick by Buscemi.
Buscemi looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Buscemi lands a slapping body shot.
Buscemi moves in looking to clinch but Franco pushes him off.
Buscemi on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Franco connects with the punch.
Franco might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buscemi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Franco swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Franco connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Buscemi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Franco paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Buscemi shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Buscemi is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Franco's half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Franco is trying to control but can't.
Franco wants to get back to full guard but Buscemi has passed into side control.
Franco is trying to escape the mount.
Buscemi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Franco is looking to escape.
Buscemi lands a heavy elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Buscemi there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Buscemi tries to control but Franco wriggling away.
Buscemi lands a heavy elbow.
Buscemi misses with a head shot.
Franco is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Buscemi throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Buscemi throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Franco because Buscemi loaded up on that one.
Buscemi looking to ground and pound but Franco is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Buscemi looking to ground and pound but Franco is blocking nicely.
Buscemi thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Buscemi working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Franco really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Buscemi with the ground and pound from mount.
Buscemi breaks from Franco's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Franco bucks up and throws Buscemi to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Buscemi doesn't manage to clinch there - Franco circles away.
Franco looks to land a right hand but Buscemi moved out of range.
Buscemi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Buscemi on the wrong end of a nice hook.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keith Franco comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Franco has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keith Franco!