PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Donnell Hurley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that James Franco was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Hurley
vs
Franco

224 cm
18
161 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

178 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Donnell Hurley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James Franco!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Donatello Bradman and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Franco moves into range and clinches up with Hurley.
Franco tries to pull guard but Hurley forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Hurley is trying to pull guard but Franco has him pressed against the cage.
Franco effectively controlling the action here.
Hurley looking to slow down the pace here.
Hurley has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Franco is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Hurley is looking to control Franco's arms but Franco gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hurley has his back to the cage.

Franco breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

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

Franco turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Franco manages to end up in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco tries to stand but Hurley is controlling his head.
Hurley tries to buck Franco off but Franco is having none of it.
Franco wants to stand but Hurley has his arm trapped.
Hurley really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Franco is staying tight to Hurley's torso, preventing him from escaping.

Franco decides to stand up, so the ref orders Hurley to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Franco moves into range and clinches up with Hurley.

Franco is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Hurley can't fight it off and eventually Franco manages to take the fight to the floor. Hurley looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Franco is looking to stand up but Hurley won't let him.
Franco wants to control from the top but Hurley keeps moving.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Franco is stalling in the full guard.
Franco is looking to stand up but Hurley won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Franco throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hurley works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Franco content to stall in guard here.

OK we're going to have a standup here. James Franco hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Franco cracks Hurley with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Franco swinging wildly here.
Hurley shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Franco but Franco pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Donnell Hurley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franco fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Franco 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.
Hurley is trying to control the position but Franco postures up.
Hurley is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Franco is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Hurley is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Franco is controlling him.
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.
Hurley trying to keep a closed guard but Franco is proving a slippery customer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Donnell Hurley just wasn't active enough.
Hurley tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Franco counters by moving into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Franco dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Franco closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hurley did well to prevent Franco getting side control.
Franco working Hurley over with strikes.
Franco seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Franco wants to work for an arm triangle but Hurley is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franco tries to pass to full mount but Hurley defends it.
Hurley wants to improve his position but Franco is controlling well.
Hurley trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Franco is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Franco keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

James Franco has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Hurley keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Hurley enables Franco to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Hurley manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Franco tries to stand but Hurley is controlling from the bottom.
Franco passes Hurley's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Franco wants to free his trapped foot but Hurley is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Franco thows a huge punch but Hurley dodges it nicely.
Franco drops an elbow to the side of Hurley's head.
Franco wants to free his trapped foot but Hurley is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Hurley is defending against the submission attempts here by Franco.
Franco is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco controlling the pace.
Hurley slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Hurley throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Franco controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hurley controls Franco momentarily but Franco frees himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Franco controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Franco showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hurley tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Franco counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Franco passes Hurley's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hurley is looking to control Franco's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hurley avoid being mounted?
Franco thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hurley is looking for a sweep. Franco is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hurley is working hard here to advance position.
Franco not doing much here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. James Franco was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Hurley gets tackled into the cage by Franco. Franco maintains the clinch.

Franco breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
James Franco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Franco clinches up against the cage.
Franco is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hurley gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Franco is trying to pull guard but Hurley has him pressed against the cage.

Franco works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Franco stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hurley swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Franco pushing down on Hurley's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Hurley is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Franco is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Hurley wants to control but Franco is keeping busy.
Hurley wants to get back to full guard.
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 keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Franco passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Hurley!
Franco has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Franco wants to get back to his feet but Hurley is holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hurley is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Franco cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Franco takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hurley is looking to improve his position but Franco isn't that keen on the idea.
Franco landing shots from mount.
Franco controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hurley tries to hold on but Franco postures up.
Franco looking to finish Hurley with some ground and pound. This is bad for Hurley!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hurley is in a horrible position here. Franco smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Donnell Hurley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James Franco is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
James Franco has got the better of the ground game so far.
Franco content just to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Franco comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Franco 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30

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