PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ari Ahikaroa (ranked 8083 p4p, 674 weight class) and John Franco (ranked 21910 p4p, 797 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ahikaroa
vs
Franco

185 cm
27
202 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

182 cm
29
180 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ari Ahikaroa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Franco!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Luis Engracia and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Franco rushes Ahikaroa and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ahikaroa is trying to pull guard but Franco has him pressed against the cage.

Franco breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ahikaroa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Franco's waist but Franco gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ahikaroa off to one side.
Ahikaroa shoots in looking for a takedown but Franco manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ahikaroa's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ari Ahikaroa. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Franco looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ahikaroa wants to improve his position but Franco is controlling well.
Franco is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franco lands with a punch from half guard.

Franco stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Ahikaroa to get to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco dives in and grabs Ahikaroa's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ahikaroa pushes down on Franco's head and hops out.
As Franco tries to get set, Ahikaroa tries to push him back and clinch up but Franco manages to avoid the attempt.

Franco gets a clinch.

Franco pulls guard effortlessly.
Franco has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ahikaroa stopping the sweep attempt from Franco.
Franco wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Ahikaroa trying to control the position from guard on top but Franco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Franco is pulling down on Ahikaroa's head. It's preventing any offense from Ahikaroa, at least for the moment.

Franco throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Franco has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Ahikaroa is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Franco.
Franco isn't going anywhere.
Franco is trying to buck Ahikaroa off.
The ground and pound from Ahikaroa seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Ahikaroa controlling his opponent.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ahikaroa wants to control but instead Franco manages to regain half guard.
Ahikaroa wants to pass to mount but Franco is defending the position.
Ahikaroa wants to control but Franco is keeping him busy.
Franco wants to improve his position but Ahikaroa is controlling well.
It looks like Ahikaroa is going to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahikaroa is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Franco tries to lock up and control but Ahikaroa gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ahikaroa knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Franco on the ground.
Franco is desperately trying to improve his position but Ahikaroa has a good base and remains in mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ahikaroa avoids the attempt from Franco to control.
Ahikaroa misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Franco closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Ahikaroa's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Ahikaroa trying to control here.
Franco takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Ahikaroa trying to hold on to Franco's head to control him but Franco postures up.
Franco takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
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.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahikaroa fails in his attempt to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ahikaroa jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Franco walks away with a smile on his face. Ahikaroa gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Franco forces Ahikaroa back against the cage and clinches.

Franco has hold of one of Ahikaroa's legs. Ahikaroa is fighting the takedown attempt but Franco gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Franco forces his way into half guard.
Franco scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franco wants to take a breather but Ahikaroa is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Franco stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Ahikaroa to get to his feet.
Ahikaroa tries to clinch up but Franco circles away and keeps his distance.
Ahikaroa misses with a takedown attempt
and Franco counters with a head kick. That will keep Ahikaroa thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Ahikaroa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Franco paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Franco is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Franco displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ahikaroa.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ari Ahikaroa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ahikaroa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ahikaroa dives in and grabs Franco's left leg, looking for a takedown. Franco pushes down on Ahikaroa's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco blocks a head kick by Ahikaroa.
Ari Ahikaroa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A head kick misses from Franco.
Franco circles away from the clinch attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Franco breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Franco avoids the head kick by Ahikaroa.
Franco misses with an attempted mid kick.
Franco tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ahikaroa swivels and escapes.
Ahikaroa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Franco pinned against the cage. Franco gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Franco pushes Ahikaroa up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahikaroa has had enough of the clinch but Franco keeps him there for the moment.
Franco is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ahikaroa is defending well.

Ahikaroa manages to pull guard.

Franco avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
John Franco has got the better of the ground game so far.
Franco postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Franco slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Franco trying to control but Ahikaroa is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Franco showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Sloppy strikes from Franco. Those never looked like landing.
Ahikaroa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Franco's waist but Franco gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ahikaroa off to one side.
Ahikaroa dodges the punch combination from Franco.
Ahikaroa fails with a takedown attempt.
Franco throws a nice looking combination but Ahikaroa bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ahikaroa lands a nice looking body kick.
Franco throws a head kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Franco closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ahikaroa to the mat! Ahikaroa manages to get full guard.

Ahikaroa manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ahikaroa tries to clinch there but Franco circles away.
Franco steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Ahikaroa.

Franco clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franco has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Ahikaroa is trying to keep an underhook but Franco manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Ahikaroa is looking to improve his position.
Franco slips a nice elbow through Ahikaroa's hands, connecting with Ahikaroa's forehead.
Ahikaroa wants to get back to his feet.
Ahikaroa wants to get back to full guard.
Ahikaroa regains full guard. Nicely done.
Franco pushes down on Ahikaroa's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Franco seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Franco is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ahikaroa has managed to free his arm - good work.
Ahikaroa trying to control here.
Franco passes to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahikaroa is trying desperately to improve position.
Franco lands a nice shot to the head.
Ahikaroa is looking to get to half guard.
Ahikaroa on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ahikaroa tries to get out of the position.
Franco landing shots from mount.
Ahikaroa keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Franco is landing with some decent strikes but Ahikaroa is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahikaroa tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Franco looking to control and managing it successfully.
Franco has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ahikaroa can't escape the position.
Franco controlling the pace for now.
Ari Ahikaroa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John Franco is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Franco landing shots from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
John 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30

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