PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bruno Italo (ranked 3971 p4p, 442 weight class) and John Franco (ranked 4479 p4p, 491 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as John Franco enters the cage!

Italo
vs
Franco

185 cm
32
185 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

182 cm
30
180 lbs
11 - 4 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
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 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bruno Italo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Franco!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Paulo Santos and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Franco closes the distance and clinches.
Italo 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.

Franco lands a takedown into guard.

Italo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Franco can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Italo is looking for a triangle but Franco pushes his legs off easily.
Franco throws a big right hand that misses.
Franco pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Italo is keeping the position for now.
Franco advances to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franco working over Italo with some ground and pound. Italo looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Franco is looking for a kimura but Italo is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Franco to get the leverage.

Italo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Italo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Franco pulls his head out easily.
Franco takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
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 seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Italo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franco is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Italo defends it well.
Franco is looking to take a break and control but Italo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Italo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Franco pulls his head out easily.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Franco lands a nice short elbow.

It looks like Bruno Italo has been cut.

Italo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Franco pulls his head out easily.

Franco is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Italo sees it coming and defends easily.
Ground and pound from Franco.
Franco scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Italo looking for submissions off his back.
Nice strikes from Franco there.
Italo is refusing to be controlled, as Franco sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Italo actively working from the bottom here.
Franco tries to pass the half guard into mount. Italo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Franco is looking to take a break and control but Italo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Franco working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Franco lands strikes from half guard.

Franco is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Franco is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Italo sees it coming and defends easily.
Still in half guard, Franco seems content to control.
Franco is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Franco wants to pass to mount but Italo is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Italo actively working from the bottom here.

Franco is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Italo has managed to free his arm - good work.

Franco is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Italo sees it coming and defends easily.

Italo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Franco pulls his head out easily.
Franco keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Franco lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Italo has hold of a guillotine but he's not going to be able to crank on it really with only half guard, so it's no trouble for Franco. Oh but Italo has got full guard now! Oh boy! This one could be over very soon! Franco goes limp - he's gone! Italo jumps up and celebrates with the crowd - fantastic submission finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Bruno Italo!
Bruno Italo decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.