PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Aj Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nel Francia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Francia has chosen Remember the name - fort minor as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smith
vs
Francia

188 cm
20
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

162 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aj Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nel Francia!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Frank Dennis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Francia closes the distance and clinches.
A short body shot lands from Francia as the two fighters clinch.
Francia lands a body punch.
Smith tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Francia just stands there and leans against the cage.
Francia stalling the fight.
Francia works on Smith's body with a couple of short punches.
Francia lands a left hand that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Francia lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Francia.
Francia lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Francia gets underhooks to prevent Smith's takedown attempt.
Francia working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Smith has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Francia avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aj Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short uppercut from Francia.
Francia just leaning against Smith, taking a breather.
Smith wants a takedown but no success here.
Francia lands a body shot in the clinch.
Smith's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Francia lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Smith is rocked!
Smith blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Oh Smith is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

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.
Francia misses with some punches.
Smith seems to have got his legs back now.
Smith really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Francia pressing his opponent against the cage.
Francia stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Smith tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Francia smiles and moves away.
Francia fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Francia closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Smith did well to prevent Francia getting side control.
Smith is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Smith looking for submissions off his back.

Smith actively working from the bottom here.
Smith moves into full guard.

Francia stands up from Smith's guard - Francia perhaps looking for a knockout.
Smith tries for a takedown but Francia circles away easily
and Francia counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Smith is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Smith doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Francia counters with a shoot takedown. Smith fights it but they end up in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith working for a triangle but Francia defends it easily.
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!
Francia would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Francia must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Francia really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Francia looks gassed!

Francia stands up and waves to Smith to follow him.
Smith shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Francia defends it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nel Francia dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Smith throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Francia's waist but Francia gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Smith off to one side.
Francia fails in his attempt to clinch.

Francia moves into range and clinches up with Smith.
Smith being controlled against the cage.
Francia gets through Smith's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short body shot lands from Francia as the two fighters clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Francia walks away with a smile on his face. Smith gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Francia tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.

Francia pushes Smith up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith has Francia pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Francia manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aj Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short uppercut from Francia.
Francia lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Francia creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A right hook to the body lands for Francia.
Francia works on Smith's body with a couple of short punches.
Francia works on Smith's body with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Francia lands a left hand that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
A hook to the body from Francia.
Smith tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Smith jumps guard but Francia stands there with Smith around his waist. Smith gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Francia lands a nice uppercut.
Smith tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Francia is working Smith over against the cage.
Francia lands a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francia is leaning against Smith and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Francia lands a right hand.

Smith drags the fight down to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Francia gets to his feet - Smith follows without any prompting.
Smith tries for a takedown but Francia circles away easily

and Francia counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Francia.

Smith working for a triangle but Francia defends it easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Francia wants to get up but he can't break Smith's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Nel Francia has got the better of the ground game so far.
Francia is breathing heavily.

Smith looking for a guillotine here but Francia defends easily.

Smith pushes a forearm under Francia's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Francia is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:04 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Aj Smith!