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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Luiz Franca (ranked 1405 p4p, 175 weight class) and Alvarez Croce (ranked 2695 p4p, 312 weight class). Croce is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Bleed to Death. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.
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| 188 cm
26
185 lbs
4 - 0 - 0 |
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185 cm
26
195 lbs
6 - 0 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick |
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Dangerous GnP
Counter fighter
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Luiz Franca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alvarez Croce !
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Taro Takaoka and Yasuomi Hirokawa.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Nice sprawl there from Franca as Croce shoots in.
Croce has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Franca is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Croce looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Franca is fending him off so far but Croce persists. Nope, Franca circles away and we're back to standing.
Croce throws a lazy right hand but Franca sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Franca circles away from the clinch attempt
and Franca counters with a shoot takedown. Croce fights it but they end up in guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franca missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Franca works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Franca working over Croce with some ground and pound. Croce looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Franca is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Franca is looking for a kimura but Croce is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Franca to get the leverage.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Croce wants to get back to full guard.
Franca is looking for a kimura here.
Franca seems to be looking for submissions.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Croce is defending against the submission attempts here by Franca.
Franca is looking to advance position but Croce won't allow it.
Croce is trying to stand back up but Franca is controlling him
Franca missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Croce keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Franca thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Croce 's head.
Franca missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Croce is looking to control Franca's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Croce avoid being mounted?
Franca missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franca thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Croce 's head.
Franca is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Franca thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Croce wants to improve his position but Franca is controlling well.
Franca is working for a kimura but Croce is defending it quite comfortably.
Franca throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Franca missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Franca 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.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franca wants to pass to mount but Croce is defending the position.
Franca is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Croce sees it coming and defends easily.
Croce is looking for a sweep. Franca is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Franca is working for a submission of some sort.
Franca thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Croce 's head.
Croce desperately trying to maintain half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Croce wants to control but Franca is keeping busy.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Franca is working for a kimura but Croce is defending it quite comfortably.
Croce makes his way to full guard, as Franca worked for a kimura.
Franca looking to pass the guard.
Croce looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Franca drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Croce manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Franca has Croce in his guard.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Franca is looking to stand up but Croce isn't so interested in that idea.
Franca is edging up against the ropes. He's using the ropes to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Croce slows down the pace here.
Croce jumps guard but Franca turns him against the ropes and keeps the fight standing.
Luiz Franca has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alvarez Croce .
Croce blocks an uppercut.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Franca fails to land.
Franca misses with the head strike.
Franca misses with the head strike.
Franca swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Franca fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Croce .
Franca has a couple of punches blocked by Croce .
I was talking to Franca's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Croce is looking for a takedown.
Croce has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Franca clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Franca is trying to shake Croce off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Croce won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Croce shoots in but Franca avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Croce shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Franca but Franca pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Croce misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Franca changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Croce has a takedown stuffed.
Croce dives in and grabs Franca's left leg, looking for a takedown. Franca pushes down on Croce 's head and hops out.
Franca appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Croce throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Franca attempts a counter takedown but Croce avoids it well and moves away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Croce fails with the takedown
and Franca counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Croce !
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Luiz Franca dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're 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.
Croce closes this distance looking for a takedown but Franca circles away.
Franca feinted with a counter takedown.
Croce shoots and misses
and Franca counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Croce !
Franca tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Franca has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Franca swings around for an armbar but Croce sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Franca's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franca wants to stand up but Croce is controlling him.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Franca avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Franca keeping full guard, as Croce tries to pass.
Franca is looking to stand up but Croce isn't so interested in that idea.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Croce fails with a takedown attempt.
Franca half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Luiz Franca has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alvarez Croce .
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Croce shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Croce was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Franca throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Croce with a poor takedown
and Franca counters with a nice double leg into side control. Croce won't be happy with that.
Franca goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Croce has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Franca but great work by Croce .
Croce throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Luiz Franca overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Franca is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Franca is not content to let Croce control the position.
Franca tries to escape but Croce is in control.
Croce trying to control the position but Franca is working away.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Croce creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Franca sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Franca is trying to get back to his feet.
Franca takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Franca throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Franca stuffs the takedown attempt from Croce . Croce gets slowly back to his feet.
Croce looks to clinch
and Franca counters with a single leg into guard. Croce didn't expect that.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Franca advances position into side control!
Franca goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Croce rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Franca's guard! Nice work there by Croce !
Franca wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Croce manages to pass to side control.
Croce takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Franca wants to get back to his feet.
Croce landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Franca tries to kick Croce off but Croce keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Franca pushes Croce off and gets back to his feet.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Croce dives in and grabs Franca's left leg, looking for a takedown. Franca pushes down on Croce 's head and hops out.
Franca stuffs the takedown.
Franca appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Croce is breathing heavily.
Croce shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Franca defends it nicely.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Croce tries for a takedown but Franca circles away easily
and Franca counters with a nice double leg into side control. Croce won't be happy with that.
Franca tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Franca has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Franca thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Croce regains half guard.
Croce keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Franca drops an elbow to the side of Croce 's head.
Croce avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Franca.
Croce blocking the ground and pound attempt from Franca.
Franca is thwarting Croce 's attempts to control the position.
Franca is working for a submission of some sort.
Croce trying to control from the bottom.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Franca trying to pass the guard but Croce defending well.
Franca working the head and body with strikes.
Franca is looking for a kimura here.
Franca throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Franca is looking for a kimura but Croce is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Franca to get the leverage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Croce trying to control here.
Franca is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Croce still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Croce has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
And that's the end of the fight!
Luiz Franca showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Franca has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for Luiz Franca!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Luiz Franca!
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for Luiz Franca!
Luiz Franca wins by unanimous decision!
In defeat, Alvarez Croce stepped up to the mic, saying 'I knew that i was gonna lose this fight coz i have been having problems in grapling defense. He submited me and that was it. It is wat it is, and I always stay humble and look for wat is next to be done.'.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
35% |
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