PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigue Francouer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Catcher Freeman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Francouer
vs
Freeman

190 cm
20
163 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
20
145 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rodrigue Francouer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Catcher Freeman!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Robert Twigg and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Freeman throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Freeman looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Francouer gets a takedown into half guard.
Francouer not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Francouer is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Francouer throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Francouer is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Freeman is looking to control Francouer's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Freeman avoid being mounted?
Francouer throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freeman is refusing to be controlled, as Francouer sits in half guard.
Francouer has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Freeman avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Francouer.
Francouer sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Freeman defending well though.
Francouer missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Francouer pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Freeman keeps the fight on the outside.
Francouer is looking to clinch.
Francouer tries to clinch there but Freeman circles away.
Francouer fails in his attempt to clinch.
Some wild striking there from Francouer.
Horrible takedown by Francouer or perhaps it was just good defense by Freeman which made him look bad.

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.
Francouer throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Francouer is looking to clinch but Freeman is avoiding it.
Freeman misses with a combination
and Francouer counters with an inside leg kick.
Francouer tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Freeman circles away from the clinch attempt.
Francouer thumps Freeman with a low kick.
Francouer looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Catcher Freeman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Francouer tries to close the distance and clinch but Freeman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Francouer throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Francouer tries to clinch up but Freeman circles away and keeps his distance.
Francouer wants to clinch up but Freeman keeps it at a distance.
Francouer tries to close the distance and clinch but Freeman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Francouer lands with a nice body kick.
Francouer throws a nice inside leg kick.
Freeman swats away the attempt to clinch by Francouer.
Francouer wants to clinch up but Freeman keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francouer tries for a takedown but Freeman sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Francouer tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Freeman was well out of range. Poor timing from Francouer.
Francouer paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Francouer shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigue Francouer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Freeman throws a series of punches but Francouer moves out of range.
Francouer plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A slapping leg kick lands for Francouer.
Freeman fails to land the takedown.
Francouer shoots for a double leg takedown but Freeman sprawls well. He's pushed Francouer's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Freeman misses with a combination
and Francouer counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Freeman is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Francouer misses with a double jab.
Francouer connects with a jab.
Francouer swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Francouer - that will leave a mark!
Freeman dodges the punch combination from Francouer.
Freeman avoids the head kick by Francouer.
Freeman scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Francouer fails with an attempt to clinch.
Francouer fails with an attempt to clinch.
Freeman chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Francouer can pounce on him.
Freeman blocks a head kick by Francouer.
Francouer tries to clinch but Freeman is having none of it.
Francouer misses with a few strikes there.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Freeman closes the distance and clinches.
Francouer jumps guard but Freeman stands there with Francouer around his waist. Francouer gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Freeman stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Francouer with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Freeman tries to clinch up.
Francouer throws a quick inside leg kick.
Francouer fails with an attempt to clinch.
Francouer really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Francouer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Francouer is looking to clinch.
Francouer wants to clinch

and Freeman counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Freeman missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Francouer wants to get back to his feet.

Francouer manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Francouer throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Francouer will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Freeman avoids a kick to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Francouer tries to clinch but Freeman is having none of it.
Francouer tries to clinch but Freeman moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Francouer scores with a push kick.
Freeman misses with a hook. Francouer ducked under it nicely.
Francouer wants to clinch up but Freeman keeps it at a distance.
Rodrigue Francouer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fight stays on the outside here - Francouer looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Francouer lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Francouer uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Francouer throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Freeman's head.
Francouer is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Freeman throws a series of punches but Francouer avoids them all with ease.
Francouer misses with an attempted mid kick.
Good leg kick by Francouer there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Francouer throws the kick towards the body but Freeman avoids it.
Freeman gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Francouer misses with a jab, cross combination.
Francouer tries to clinch but Freeman is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Freeman misses
and Francouer counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Freeman is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Freeman lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Freeman moves forwards but Francouer connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A big right from Freeman misses.
Nice body kick from Francouer.
Freeman throws a jab when Francouer was well out of range.
Francouer loads up on a big right hand but Freeman slips the punch.

Francouer darts in and clinches Freeman up against the cage.
Francouer tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Freeman just stands there and leans against the cage.
Francouer tries a knee to the head but Freeman blocks it.
Freeman prevents the takedown attempt.
Francouer jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Freeman walks away with a smile on his face. Francouer gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigue Francouer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Freeman lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Freeman tries to bum rush Francouer with a series of wild strikes but Francouer uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Francouer circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freeman tries for a takedown but Francouer circles away easily
and Francouer counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Francouer dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Freeman. That did some damage!
Francouer tries to clinch up.
Francouer looks to throw the jab but Freeman is out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Francouer looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Francouer tries to clinch there but Freeman circles away.
Freeman shoots for a double leg takedown but Francouer sprawls well. He's pushed Freeman's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Francouer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Freeman swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Francouer doesn't manage to clinch there - Freeman circles away.
Francouer feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Freeman's calf.
Francouer fails to land with a series of punches.
Freeman throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Francouer counters with a stiff right hand.
Freeman misses with the combination.
Francouer has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Freeman throws a right and a left that Francouer avoids nicely.
Francouer shoots for a double leg takedown but Freeman sprawls well. He's pushed Francouer's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Francouer tries to clinch up but Freeman circles away and keeps his distance.
Francouer is looking to score with low kicks.
Freeman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Francouer moves in looking to clinch but Freeman pushes him off.
Freeman swats away the attempt to clinch by Francouer.
Francouer fails in his attempt to clinch.
Freeman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Francouer dives in and grabs Freeman's left leg, looking for a takedown. Freeman pushes down on Francouer's head and hops out.
Freeman throws a left and a right that both miss
and Francouer counters with a nice leg kick.
Francouer dodges the punch combination from Freeman.
Freeman has a takedown stuffed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigue Francouer dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Freeman fails with an attempt to clinch.
A shot to the liver by Francouer. Beautiful body shot.
Francouer is looking to clinch but Freeman is avoiding it.
Freeman tries to bum rush Francouer with a series of wild strikes but Francouer uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Francouer wants to clinch.
Francouer throws a body kick that misses.
Francouer moves in looking to clinch but Freeman pushes him off.
Freeman's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

Francouer fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Freeman, pushing him back against the cage.
Francouer drops down looking for an ankle pick but Freeman pulls his leg out and moves away.
Francouer wants to clinch up but Freeman keeps it at a distance.
Rodrigue Francouer is winning the standup battle so far.
A chopping leg kick lands by Francouer.
Francouer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Francouer looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Francouer fails with an attempt to clinch.

Francouer clinches.
Francouer's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Freeman keeps control of Francouer as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Francouer tries to pull guard but Freeman won't allow it.
Freeman is pressed up against the cage. Francouer has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Freeman down to the mat. Freeman avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigue Francouer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Francouer tries to clinch but Freeman moves away

and Freeman counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Francouer keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Freeman missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Francouer pushes Freeman off looking to stand but Freeman dives back in and keeps control.
Freeman thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Freeman is working for a kimura but Francouer is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Francouer pushes Freeman off looking to stand but Freeman dives back in and keeps control.
Francouer trying to hold on to Freeman's head to control him but Freeman postures up.

Freeman looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Francouer is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francouer buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Francouer throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Francouer misses with a body kick.
Freeman avoids a kick to the body.
Francouer jabs Freeman right on the nose. Freeman blinks but takes it well.
Francouer throws a right and a left that both miss.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Freeman is defended easily by Francouer.

Francouer moves into the clinch.
Francouer has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Freeman is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Francouer has Freeman pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Freeman manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Francouer tries to score a body lock takedown but Freeman shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Freeman gets underhooks to prevent Francouer's takedown attempt.
Francouer is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Freeman gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Francouer is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Freeman gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Francouer jumps guard but Freeman stands there with Francouer around his waist. Francouer gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Francouer jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Freeman walks away with a smile on his face. Francouer gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Freeman pushes Francouer up against the cage in a clinch.
Francouer tries a knee to the head but Freeman blocks it.

Francouer has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Freeman uses from the top position.
Francouer utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Catcher Freeman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Freeman really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Francouer. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Francouer wants to sweep but no luck.
Freeman trying to control but Francouer is working from the bottom.

Francouer pushes Freeman off and gets back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rodrigue Francouer.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Francouer, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodrigue Francouer!