PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Erasmo Francis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joseph Pimentel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Francis
vs
Pimentel

154 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

168 cm
23
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Erasmo Francis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joseph Pimentel!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Alec Ball and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pimentel shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Francis manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Pimentel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Francis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Francis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pimentel.
Pimentel trying to stand up but can't free himself from Francis's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Francis keeping full guard, as Pimentel tries to pass.
Pimentel controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Pimentel advances to half guard.

Pimentel gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pimentel lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Pimentel defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Francis.
Pimentel tries to close the distance and clinch but Francis swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pimentel will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Pimentel goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Francis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Pimentel manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Pimentel thows a body shot but no joy.
Francis goes for a double leg but Pimentel avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Pimentel continues to drive forward.
Pimentel is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Francis to keep the fight standing.

Pimentel breaks from the clinch.
Francis shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pimentel but Pimentel pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erasmo Francis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pimentel closes the distance looking to clinch
and Francis makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pimentel throws the kick towards the body but Francis avoids it.
Francis fails with a takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown by Francis or perhaps it was just good defense by Pimentel which made him look bad.
Francis shoots for a takedown but Pimentel saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Pimentel pushes Francis up against the cage in a clinch.
Pimentel has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Francis avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pimentel stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Francis prevents a takedown attempt there.

Pimentel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pimentel jabs Francis right on the nose. Francis blinks but takes it well.

Pimentel tries to keep at a distance but Francis has taken the fight into the clinch.

Pimentel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Francis could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Pimentel moves out of range of the body kick.
Francis misses with a takedown attempt - Pimentel sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pimentel blocks a head kick by Francis.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pimentel is defended easily by Francis.
A jab from Pimentel misses.
Pimentel lands a head kick. Francis smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Pimentel misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Francis misses with a kick to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pimentel fails with an attempt to clinch.
No luck for Pimentel with that takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Pimentel dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Pimentel throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Francis's waist but Francis gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Pimentel off to one side.
Francis tries to close the distance and clinch but Pimentel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Francis misses with the combination.
Pimentel fails with a takedown attempt.
Pimentel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pimentel shoots in looking for a takedown. Francis tries to sprawl out of it but Pimentel keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Francis manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Erasmo Francis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joseph Pimentel.
Pimentel leaves Francis with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Francis displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Pimentel.
Joseph Pimentel seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Francis tries to keep at a distance but Pimentel has taken the fight into the clinch.
Pimentel prevents Francis from breaking the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Francis just misses with a elbow thrown towards Pimentel's brow.
Francis fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Pimentel jumps guard but Francis stands there with Pimentel around his waist. Pimentel gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Francis jumps into guard, dragging Pimentel to the mat.
Francis is trying to control the position but Pimentel postures up.
Pimentel is looking to stand up but Francis won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pimentel is looking to pass into half guard but Francis pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Francis is in guard.
Francis trying to control the position from guard on top but Pimentel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Francis might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Francis is stalling in the full guard.
Francis wanted to stand there but Pimentel had control of the position.
Pimentel looking to control.

Pimentel throws his legs up looking for a submission but Francis uses it to pass to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francis wants to take a breather but Pimentel manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Francis.
Francis postures up in Pimentel's guard and throws a big left but Pimentel blocks it.

Pimentel is looking for a triangle here but Francis uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Pimentel is trying to work for a sweep but Francis has mounted him!
Pimentel is breathing heavily.
Pimentel wants to hold on but Francis pushes him away.
Poor strikes thrown by Francis there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pimentel 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.
Pimentel holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Francis tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Francis content just to control the position here.
Francis trying to control but Pimentel is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pimentel tries to lock up and control but Francis gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erasmo Francis dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Francis misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Francis swats away the attempt to clinch by Pimentel.
Pimentel tries to clinch but Francis is having none of it.
Pimentel wants to clinch up but Francis keeps it at a distance.

Pimentel drives through and clinches with Francis against the cage.
Pimentel wants to take the fight to the mat but Francis manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Francis is trying to pull guard but Pimentel turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Pimentel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pimentel shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Francis defends it nicely.
Francis shoots in but no luck this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Francis shoots for a double leg takedown but Pimentel sprawls well. He's pushed Francis's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erasmo Francis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pimentel leaves Francis with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Francis throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pimentel's waist but Pimentel gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Francis off to one side.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Francis fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Francis keeps the fight on the outside.
Pimentel closes this distance looking for a takedown but Francis circles away.
Pimentel fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown by Francis or perhaps it was just good defense by Pimentel which made him look bad.
A decent looking cross lands there for Pimentel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pimentel shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Francis sprawls well. Francis wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Pimentel gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Francis. No joy for Pimentel on that attempt.
Francis shoots in looking for a takedown. Pimentel tries to sprawl out of it but Francis keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pimentel manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Francis tried to score with a low kick but Pimentel checks it.
Francis throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pimentel's waist but Pimentel gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Francis off to one side.
Pimentel cracks Francis with an open hand slap.
Pimentel is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Pimentel.
Pimentel throws a left and a right that both miss

and Francis holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Francis goes for a takedown in the clinch but Pimentel prevents it.
Stalling in the clinch from Pimentel.
Pimentel is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Francis to keep the fight standing.
Pimentel is working for takedown but Francis is calmly controlling the position for now.
Francis is trying to break the clinch but Pimentel is controlling him.
Francis wants a takedown.

Pimentel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Francis closes the distance and clinches up with Pimentel, looking for a takedown. Francis pushes Pimentel against the cage but Pimentel circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Pimentel misses.
Nice body kick there by Pimentel.
Pimentel tries to bum rush Francis with a series of wild strikes but Francis uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Francis fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pimentel avoids it really well and circles away.
Erasmo Francis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Some wild striking there from Pimentel.
Francis moves in looking to clinch but Pimentel pushes him off.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pimentel looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Francis is fending him off so far but Pimentel persists. Nope, Francis circles away and we're back to standing.
Pimentel tries to clinch but Francis moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joseph Pimentel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pimentel has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joseph Pimentel!