PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chopsi Francis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Cormier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Francis
vs
Cormier

185 cm
24
254 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
18
238 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Big heart

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chopsi Francis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Daniel Cormier!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slapping leg kick lands for Francis.
Francis changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cormier tries to avoid it but Francis manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cormier to the ground. Cormier escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Francis drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Cormier can't do much from the bottom here.
Cormier tries to escape but Francis is in control.
Cormier is looking to regain half guard here but Francis keeps moving and retains side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cormier can do anything to dispel that myth.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cormier wants to control but Francis postures up.
Cormier is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Francis stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Cormier shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Francis looking to control.
Cormier won't allow Francis to get back to his feet.
Cormier really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Francis. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Francis looking for a sweep. Not yet Francis, not yet.
Cormier wants to control from the top but Francis keeps moving.
Cormier missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cormier accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cormier should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Francis keeping moving, preventing Cormier from controlling successfully.
Francis tries to strike from the bottom.
Francis trying to strike off his back.
Cormier's corner is telling him to maintain position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Daniel Cormier hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Francis tries for a takedown but Cormier sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Cormier has eaten all the pies!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Cormier shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Cormier thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francis moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Francis keeping full guard, as Cormier tries to pass.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cormier sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Francis's guard.
Francis won't allow Cormier to pass to mount.
Francis is staying active underneath Cormier, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Francis is looking for a sweep. Cormier is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Francis is trying to maintain the position but Cormier is very close to passing his half guard.
Cormier not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Francis is defending against the submission attempts here by Cormier.
Cormier looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cormier is just content to waste time from the top position. Francis takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Cormier wants to pass the guard but Francis is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

The fight stays on the outside here - Francis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Cormier scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Francis is trying to control but can't.
Francis is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cormier's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cormier's back!
A lull in the action here.
What can Cormier do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Francis wants to control but Cormier is keeping busy.
Francis not allowing Cormier to control his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier tries to break free.
A lull in the action here.

Francis is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Francis keeps control of the position as Cormier tries to break free.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Francis. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cormier trying to control but not successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cormier tries to escape the position.
Cormier is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Daniel Cormier has got the better of the ground game so far.

Cormier manages to stand up with Francis still on his back. Eventually Francis drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.
Francis misses with a takedown attempt

and Cormier counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Cormier has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Francis fails to pull guard.
Cormier tries to break free but Francis pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francis is trying to pull guard but Cormier has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chopsi Francis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Francis fails to pull guard.
Francis tries to pull guard but Cormier won't allow it.

Cormier gets control of Francis's arms and successfully pulls guard. Cormier will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Cormier keeping moving, preventing Francis from controlling successfully.
Cormier working a defensive guard here.
Cormier wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Francis is now in half guard.
Cormier trying to hold on to Francis's head to control him but Francis postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cormier is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Francis jumps into side control!
Cormier struggling a bit here.
Cormier throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Cormier is not content to let Francis control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Francis prevents Cormier from escaping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Chopsi Francis will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Francis shoots for a takedown but Cormier saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A head kick misses from Francis.
Sloppy strikes from Francis. Those never looked like landing.
Francis is looking to clinch.
Francis shoots and misses

and Cormier counters with a takedown into side control.
Cormier laying and praying for a moment but Francis takes advantage and regains half guard.
Francis misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Cormier wants to control but Francis is keeping him busy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cormier might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Francis kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Cormier is looking to advance position but Francis won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier is trying to control. Francis wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Daniel Cormier has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Francis dives in and grabs Cormier's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cormier pushes down on Francis's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chopsi Francis. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cormier shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Cormier was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Cormier can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Francis is looking to escape.
Francis is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cormier sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Francis is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Cormier trying to control but Francis is having none of it.
Francis tries to hold on but Cormier pushes him away.
Cormier unloads with some shots from mount but Francis bucks and avoids them well.
Cormier wants to control the pace but Francis is squirming around nicely.
Cormier throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cormier throws some wild stikes that Francis manages to avoid easily.
Cormier throwing strikes here but Francis is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Cormier trying to control but Francis is having none of it.
Cormier thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Cormier trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Francis wants to hold on but Cormier pushes him away.
Francis working to try and regain half guard.
Poor strikes thrown by Cormier there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Cormier looking to control but Francis is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Francis working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cormier controlling his opponent.
Cormier looking to finish with strikes here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Cormier comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cormier has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Cormier!