PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jim Bassett (ranked 24073 p4p, 0 weight class) and Celininho Franco (ranked 5033 p4p, 493 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bassett
vs
Franco

190 cm
27
265 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

193 cm
20
246 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jim Bassett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Celininho Franco!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Lou da Vinci and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bassett changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Franco tries to avoid it but Bassett manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Franco to the ground. Franco escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Franco with the counter takedown but Bassett avoids it easily.
Bassett misses with a takedown attempt

and Franco counters by moving into the clinch.

Franco breaks from the clinch.
Bassett is trying hard to land a takedown here. Franco sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jim Bassett. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bassett looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Franco is fending him off so far but Bassett persists. Nope, Franco circles away and we're back to standing.
Bassett misses with a takedown

and Franco counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Franco advances position into side control!
Franco is putting a hurting on Bassett here, landing some big shots from side control.

Franco tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Franco has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Franco cracks Bassett with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Franco lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bassett on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Franco is looking to take a break and control but Bassett is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Franco has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Bassett is bucking up trying to escape but Franco cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Franco lands a big shot there that rocks Bassett but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Franco with the ground and pound from mount.
Franco landing strikes from the mount.

Franco looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Franco is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Franco extends the arm and Bassett is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:22 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Celininho Franco!