PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nate Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Junior Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franco comes to the cage accompanied by Till I Collapse. Junior Gracie has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Franco
vs
Gracie

175 cm
20
163 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

179 cm
19
165 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

[†CoE†]Terror-Trition 155Q[†CoE†]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nate Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Junior Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Alec Ball and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Franco closes the distance and clinches.

Franco gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Franco is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Gracie tries to roll over but Franco keeps him under control.
Gracie is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Franco perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gracie slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Franco trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie is trying to control the position but Franco postures up.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Gracie goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Franco turns into him and now he's in Gracie's guard.

Franco postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Gracie is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Franco, into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control but Franco is working from the bottom.
Franco is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Franco keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Franco is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gracie is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Franco wants to stand and escape but Gracie is having none of it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Franco forces Gracie back against the cage and clinches.

Gracie has hold of one of Franco's legs. Franco is fighting the takedown attempt but Gracie gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Gracie advances to half guard.
Franco pushes Gracie off looking to stand but Gracie dives back in and keeps control.
Franco is breathing heavily.
Franco is trying to get back to full guard.
Franco is staying active underneath Gracie, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Franco knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie seems to be working for a kimura but Franco defends the submission attempt.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Franco defends it well.
Franco is trying to control but can't.
Gracie missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Franco defends it well.
Franco is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior Gracie dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Franco but Franco pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Franco darts in and clinches Gracie up against the cage.
Gracie wants a takedown but no success here.

Franco drags the fight down to the ground.
Franco is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Gracie slips nicely into half guard.
Franco has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gracie is working away from the top position though.
Gracie throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Franco won't allow Gracie to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Franco defends it well.
Gracie prevents Franco from standing back up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura but Franco is defending well.
Franco tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Franco is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Franco doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.
Franco is looking to improve his position.

Gracie is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Franco is just riding it out for now. Gracie eventually gives up the hold.
Gracie prevents Franco from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco is trying to get back to full guard.
Gracie missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gracie missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Gracie escapes and gets back to his feet.
Franco tries to clinch but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie tries to clinch but Franco moves away

and Franco counters by moving into the clinch.

Franco has picked Gracie up - he's going for a ride! Franco dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gracie manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Franco trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gracie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Franco.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gracie is on top in guard.
Gracie wanted to stand there but Franco had control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Franco tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie with a lazy takedown attempt

so Franco counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Franco trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.
Gracie trying to keep a closed guard but Franco is proving a slippery customer.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Franco tries to pass.

Franco is sitting in close to Gracie's body. Gracie has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Franco is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Franco is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Gracie.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Junior Gracie!