PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eric Stewart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joseph Franck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stewart kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Wiz Khalifa - Work Hard Play Hard . Joseph Franck is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Stewart
vs
Franck

190 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

182 cm
27
194 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eric Stewart!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joseph Franck!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Columbo Gatti and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franck showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stewart.
Stewart takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Franck closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Stewart is looking for a sweep.
Franck content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Stewart wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franck just content to control the position.
It looks like Franck might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

Joseph Franck has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Franck takes a swing at Stewart's ribcage but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stewart misses with a jab, cross combination.
Stewart misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stewart lands a nice hook to Franck's body. Franck takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Stewart steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Franck.
Stewart throws a series of punches but Franck moves out of range.
Stewart misses with a jab, cross combination.

Franck changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Stewart looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Franck trying to control the position but Stewart is working away.
Stewart is looking to regain half guard here but Franck keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franck controls the position from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franck wants to control but Stewart is keeping him busy.

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.
Stewart is being controlled here.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Joseph Franck hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
A decent looking cross lands there for Franck.

Franck closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Franck lands in his opponent's guard.
Franck's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Franck is looking to work some ground and pound but Stewart has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Franck dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Franck shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Stewart keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Franck controlling the pace.
Franck wants to control but Stewart is keeping him busy.
Franck performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Stewart keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franck seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Joseph Franck was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Franck swings away with a body shot that misses
and Stewart counters with a series of strikes. Franck will be more careful next time no doubt.
Stewart throws a combination that misses

and Franck counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Stewart's guard now.
Franck throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stewart is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Franck wants to pass the guard but Stewart is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Stewart looking for a sweep. Not yet Stewart, not yet.

Eric Stewart has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Franck lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Franck lands with a good body shot.
Franck scores with a hook.
Stewart will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Stewart has his takedown stuffed
and Franck counters with a series of strikes. Stewart will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franck misses with a jab, cross combination.
A slow jab from Franck misses its intended target.
Stewart takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Franck slips under a jab from Stewart.
Franck swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Franck looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Stewart!
Franck creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Stewart sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franck controls the position.
Franck throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Stewart works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

Stewart is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Franck pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Franck 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. This is the final round!

Stewart takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Franck scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Stewart stuns Franck with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Stewart avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stewart swinging wildly here.
Nice shot by Franck.
Stewart swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Franck counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Franck lands a jab-cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franck takes a swing at Stewart's ribcage but misses.
Stewart misses with a kick to the body.
Franck scores with a one two! Stewart had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Franck jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Franck swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Franck lands a glancing blow to the side of Stewart's head.
Stewart changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Franck as Stewart shoots in.
Franck slips a jab and a cross from Stewart.
Stewart tries for a takedown but Franck circles away easily
and Franck cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franck throws a right and a left that Stewart avoids nicely.
Franck walks into a jab.
Stewart shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Franck counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Franck.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Stewart. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Franck trying to control the position from guard on top but Stewart is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Franck must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Franck works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Franck seems content to control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Franck works his way into side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Franck misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stewart is looking to regain half guard here but Franck keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Stewart's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Stewart is trying to get back to half guard.
Eric Stewart has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stewart is not content to let Franck control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joseph Franck comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Franck 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joseph Franck!
Our winner, Joseph Franck, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
In defeat, Eric Stewart stepped up to the mic, saying 'I would like to thank my manager, my fans, my sponsors and my gym. I will be back hungry '.