PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bryan Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zeale McCullough (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Franco
vs
McCullough

190 cm
25
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

205 cm
19
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bryan Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zeale McCullough!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shirou Masuda and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Franco.
McCullough tries to bum rush Franco with a series of wild strikes but Franco uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A combination from McCullough does no damage.
McCullough keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nice takedown defense from McCullough. No joy for Franco on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bryan Franco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franco showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from McCullough.
McCullough tries to bum rush Franco with a series of wild strikes but Franco uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

A momentary lapse in concentration from McCullough enables Franco to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. McCullough manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Franco tries to free his leg and advance position but McCullough is retaining full guard.
McCullough really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Franco. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
McCullough is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Franco trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McCullough 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 working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Franco looking to pass the guard.
McCullough tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCullough keeping full guard, as Franco tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCullough looking to control.
Francois looking to pass into half guard but McCullough pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now McCullough is in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McCullough accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McCullough throws a big right hand that misses.
McCullough wants to pass the guard but Franco is keeping the position.
McCullough wants to control from the top but Franco keeps moving.
McCullough throwing strikes but missing.
Franco might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Franco lands with some strikes.
McCullough really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Franco lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Franco lands with some strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
BOOM! Franco connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Franco is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. McCullough can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Franco lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Franco has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Franco lands a heavy elbow.
Franco connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Franco lands a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco lands with some vicious ground and pound - can McCullough hang on?
McCullough is bucking up trying to escape but Franco cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
McCullough is desperately trying to improve his position but Franco has a good base and remains in mount.
McCullough is bucking up trying to escape but Franco cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Franco lands a big elbow.
A nice elbow there by Franco.
Franco cracks McCullough with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Franco raining down hammerfists from mount.
Franco is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. McCullough can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Franco landing punches.
Franco has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of McCullough's face.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Franco punishing his opponent with strikes.
McCullough takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Franco lands a heavy elbow.
Franco punishing his opponent with strikes.
McCullough is looking to improve his position but Franco isn't that keen on the idea.
Franco landing strikes from the mount and McCullough is in trouble!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Franco with the ground and pound from mount.
McCullough is in all sorts of trouble here.
McCullough looks gassed!
Franco raining down hammerfists from mount.
Franco pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
McCullough in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
McCullough is in a horrible position here. Franco smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Franco with good strikes from the mount here!
Franco working the ground and pound effectively.
Franco has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of McCullough's face.
McCullough keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Franco postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. McCullough looks a forlorn figure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
McCullough taking shots to the head.
Franco lands with some strikes.
Franco lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Franco dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Franco shoots in and gets a takedown into McCullough's guard.
Franco advances to half guard.
Franco wants to pass to mount but McCullough is defending the position.
Franco is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Franco is landing with some decent strikes but McCullough is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Franco with the ground and pound from mount.
McCullough tries to lock up and control but Franco gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Franco raining down hammerfists from mount.
Franco avoids the attempt from McCullough to control.
McCullough is in a horrible position here. Franco smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Franco scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Franco dominating with strikes here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
BOOM! Franco connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Franco with shots to the head and body - McCullough looks very uncomfortable down there.
McCullough is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Franco lands a big shot there that rocks McCullough but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Franco punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCullough tries to hold on but Franco postures up.
A nice elbow there by Franco.
Franco is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. McCullough can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Franco lands a big shot there that rocks McCullough but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
BOOM! Franco connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Franco scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Franco landing punches.
Franco fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Franco working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Franco working McCullough over with strikes here.
McCullough wants to hold on but Franco pushes him away.
Franco landing strikes, looking to finish!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Franco dominating with strikes here.
McCullough wants to hold on but Franco pushes him away.
Franco with good strikes from the mount here!
Franco working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Franco putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Franco lands with some strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
McCullough is desperately trying to improve his position but Franco has a good base and remains in mount.
McCullough is breathing heavily.
Franco connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Franco lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
McCullough takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Franco with shots to the head and body - McCullough looks very uncomfortable down there.
Franco with shots to the head and body - McCullough looks very uncomfortable down there.
Franco lands a big shot there that rocks McCullough but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Franco cracks McCullough with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Franco in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Franco with the ground and pound from mount.
Franco has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of McCullough's face.
McCullough is in a horrible position here. Franco smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
McCullough is wriggling around trying to escape.
Franco with good strikes from the mount here!
Franco prevents McCullough from getting the reversal.
Bryan Franco overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Franco lands a big elbow.
Franco scoring with strikes but McCullough is staying in there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. McCullough looks a forlorn figure.
Franco is landing with some decent strikes but McCullough is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The referee warns McCullough that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Franco connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Franco working the ground and pound effectively.
Franco landing punches.
Franco landing punches.
Franco breaks from McCullough's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Franco is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. McCullough can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
McCullough is looking to get to half guard.
Franco landing punches.
Franco lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The referee warns McCullough that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Franco lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Franco lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Franco in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco breaks from McCullough's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Franco raining down shots from the mount!
McCullough is looking to improve his position but Franco isn't that keen on the idea.
Franco looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
McCullough really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Franco lands a heavy elbow.
Franco putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Franco lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
McCullough is trying desperately to improve position.
Franco scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Franco looking to finish McCullough with some ground and pound. This is bad for McCullough!
Franco with the ground and pound from mount.
Franco cracks McCullough with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Franco working the ground and pound effectively.
McCullough in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Franco dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Franco gets the takedown into side control.
Franco tries to advance to mount but McCullough denies him.
Franco landing strikes.
Franco lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Franco is chipping away with strikes.
Franco scoring with punches and elbows.
Franco is chipping away with strikes.
Franco lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear McCullough down.
Franco landing strikes.
McCullough is looking to regain half guard here but Franco keeps moving and retains side control.
Franco landing a few strikes.
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 working the head and body with strikes.
McCullough stops Franco from passing to mount.
Franco creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
McCullough taking a bit of punishment here - Franco scoring with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCullough gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Franco landing strikes from the mount.
Franco landing shots from mount.
Franco scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Franco lands a heavy elbow.
BOOM! Franco connects with a massive shot to the dome!
McCullough is wriggling around trying to escape.
McCullough takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Franco connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Franco pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Franco landing strikes, looking to finish!
McCullough is bucking up trying to escape but Franco cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Franco working McCullough over with strikes here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Franco looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Franco is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. McCullough can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Franco lands with some strikes.
Franco lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
McCullough wants to hold on but Franco pushes him away.
Franco lands a nice shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Franco cracks McCullough with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Franco landing strikes from the mount.
McCullough really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Franco with the ground and pound from mount.
Franco dominating with strikes here.
McCullough is in a horrible position here. Franco smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Franco with a couple of short strikes.
Franco scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish McCullough?
Franco scoring with strikes but McCullough is staying in there.
McCullough is trying desperately to improve position.
BOOM! Franco connects with a massive shot to the dome!
McCullough taking shots to the head.
McCullough is in all sorts of trouble here.
Franco connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
BOOM! Franco connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The referee warns McCullough that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Franco lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Franco cracks McCullough with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Franco raining down hammerfists from mount.
Franco working the ground and pound effectively.
Franco with shots to the head and body - McCullough looks very uncomfortable down there.
Franco is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McCullough can do to turn this around?
Franco landing strikes from the mount and McCullough is in trouble!
Franco postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. McCullough looks a forlorn figure.
Franco punishing his opponent with strikes.
Franco lands a heavy elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Franco has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of McCullough's face.
Franco cracks McCullough with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Franco scoring with strikes but McCullough is staying in there.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Franco cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Zeale McCullough has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCullough wants to hold on but Franco pushes him away.
McCullough is looking to get to half guard.
Franco lands a heavy elbow.
Franco putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Franco lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Franco is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Franco landing shots from mount.
Franco connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Franco in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Franco landing strikes from the mount.
Franco scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish McCullough?
Franco is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. McCullough can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Franco with shots to the head and body - McCullough looks very uncomfortable down there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Franco working McCullough over with strikes here.
A nice elbow there by Franco.
Franco is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Franco pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryan Franco showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Franco, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:26
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:26
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bryan Franco!