PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Leif Vargas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pedro Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pedro Franco has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Leif Vargas's chin.

Vargas
vs
Franco

150 cm
19
140 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Leif Vargas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Pedro Franco!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Nard Betker and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Franco gets the takedown into side control.
Franco throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Franco with the ground and pound but Vargas regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Vargas avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Franco.
Franco thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Vargas's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Franco seems to be working for a kimura but Vargas defends the submission attempt.
Franco throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vargas blocking the ground and pound attempt from Franco.
Franco throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Franco throwing shots but Vargas is blocking nicely.
Franco thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Vargas's head.
Franco not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Vargas might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Vargas punching from the bottom.
Vargas blocking the ground and pound attempt from Franco.
Franco misses with a head shot. Vargas uses the momentum to regain guard.
Franco controlling from the top position.
Franco loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Franco postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Vargas is breathing heavily.

Franco shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Vargas napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Franco seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Franco trying to control the action but Vargas is working from the bottom.
Franco looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Vargas is avoiding damage well.
Vargas avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Franco.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Franco tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
An elbow from Franco crashes against the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Vargas sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Vargas parries the strikes from Franco easily there. Franco is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Vargas to escape.
Franco tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Vargas taking punishment in the form of punches.
Franco controls the position from side control.
Vargas parries the strikes from Franco easily there. Franco is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Vargas to escape.
Franco postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Franco is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Vargas's shoulder. That is not cool.
Franco working the ground and pound but Vargas is defending the strikes.
Vargas avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Franco.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Franco fails to land a wild elbow strike.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Franco shoots in and bounces Vargas off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franco in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Vargas really is a fat lump.
Vargas avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vargas preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Franco throwing strikes from guard but Vargas blocks nicely.
Franco working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Franco gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Franco has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Vargas uses from the top position.
Franco has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Franco wants to stand but Vargas is controlling the position.

Franco pushes Vargas off and gets back to his feet.

Franco shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Franco not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Franco throwing shots but Vargas is blocking nicely.

Franco is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vargas is looking to control Franco's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Vargas avoid being mounted?
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Franco trying to control the action but Vargas is working from the bottom.
Vargas is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Franco with the ground and pound but Vargas uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Vargas preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Franco working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Franco throws an elbow that misses. Vargas uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Franco's guard. Nice move by Vargas!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco wants to stand and escape but Vargas is having none of it.

Franco uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Franco fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Vargas to the ground. Franco is now in Vargas's guard.
Franco throwing strikes from guard but Vargas blocks nicely.
Franco throwing strikes from guard but Vargas blocks nicely.
Franco in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Vargas avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pedro Franco has got the better of the ground game so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Franco accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco wants to control from the top but Vargas keeps moving.
Franco in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Vargas preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Franco closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Franco is working for a submission of some sort.
Franco is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Franco wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vargas keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vargas is trying to control but can't.
Franco throwing shots but Vargas is blocking nicely.
Vargas regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Franco.
Franco throws a big right hand that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Franco with a flurry of punches that miss.
Franco throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Franco manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Vargas on his heels. He'll look to pass Vargas's guard now, I'm sure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pedro 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!

Franco throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Vargas was covering up waiting for the punch and Franco finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Vargas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Franco accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Vargas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Vargas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Franco trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Franco gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Franco drives through with a takedown into guard.
Franco trying to control the position from guard on top but Vargas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Franco accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco throws a strike but Vargas rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Vargas postures up in Franco's guard and throws a big left but Franco blocks it.
Vargas throws a big right hand that misses.

Franco uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Franco rushes Vargas and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Franco successfully pulls guard.

Franco scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Franco.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Franco tries to score with some ground and pound. Vargas controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Franco wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Vargas, who protects the arm well.
Franco is trying to ground and pound but Vargas uses the momentary lack of control by Franco to regain half guard.
Franco seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Vargas blocking the ground and pound attempt from Franco.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Vargas avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Franco.
Vargas wants to improve his position but Franco is controlling well.
Franco missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pedro Franco is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Franco keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Let's hope that Franco has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Franco thows a huge punch but Vargas dodges it nicely.
Franco not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Franco shoots in and gets a takedown into Vargas's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Franco looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Leif Vargas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Franco throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pedro 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30

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