PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Phillip French (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Tessaro (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.

French
vs
Tessaro

190 cm
20
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Phillip French!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tommy Tessaro!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Felipe Paraventi and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Tessaro looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A head kick misses from Tessaro.
French stuffs the takedown.

Tessaro gets tackled into the cage by French. French maintains the clinch.
French utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
French connects with a nasty looking knee right to Tessaro's face.
French lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
French putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Tessaro in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
French lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as French takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

French breaks from the clinch.
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!
Tessaro tries to clinch up.

French closes the distance and clinches.
Tessaro blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
French leaning against his opponent.
French tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Tessaro avoids it.
French landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Tessaro wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but French has him pressed against the cage.
French tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tessaro's elbow.
French looking to throw knees to the head but Tessaro is blocking nicely.
French lands an elbow just above Tessaro 's eye.

French breaks from the clinch.

French rushes Tessaro and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Tessaro fails to pull guard.
Tessaro is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Phillip French has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tommy Tessaro.
French is stalling here.
French has Tessaro pressed against the cage, preventing Tessaro from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
French trying to land knees to the body.
French comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

French breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Tessaro closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Tessaro moves into full mount! French won't be happy about that!
French tries to lock up and control but Tessaro gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
French is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
French is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tessaro tries to control but French wriggling away.
Tessaro prevents French from getting the reversal.
Tessaro controlling the position easily from mount.
French is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tessaro takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tessaro scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish French?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phillip French dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

French fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tessaro, pushing him back against the cage.
French is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Tessaro is defending well.
French throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
French is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Tessaro to keep the fight standing.
French gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
French throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Tessaro looking for a takedown.
French is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Tessaro to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Phillip French. That's going to take a lot out of him.
French gets underhooks to prevent Tessaro's takedown attempt.
Tessaro tries to pull guard but French forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Tessaro tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. French just stands there and leans against the cage.
French fails to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for French.

Tessaro manages to break the clinch.

Tessaro dives in and scores a takedown into French's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tessaro wants to control from the top but French keeps moving.
Tessaro stopping the sweep attempt from French.
Tessaro trying to control but French is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as French holds on and takes a little breather.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Tommy Tessaro wasn't active enough on the ground.

French gets a clinch.
Tessaro is trying to break free.
French managing to block the knees to the body from Tessaro.
Tessaro tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. French just stands there and leans against the cage.

Tessaro gets control of French's arms and successfully pulls guard. Tessaro will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Tessaro working a defensive guard here.
Tessaro keeping moving, preventing French from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tessaro is pulling down on French's head to control his posture.
Tessaro's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Tommy Tessaro.
Tessaro wants to clinch.
Tessaro misses with a jab, cross combination.

French closes the distance and pushes Tessaro back into the cage.

Tessaro pulls guard.
Tessaro is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tessaro is trying to control the position but French postures up.
French looking to pass the guard.
Tessaro working a defensive guard here.
Tommy Tessaro has got the better of the ground game so far.

Tessaro is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. French is aware though and is defending well.
Tessaro has French pulled in close to control his posture.
French has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
French trying to control but Tessaro is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tommy Tessaro will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Tessaro shoots in looking for a takedown. French tries to sprawl out of it but Tessaro keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. French manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
French shoots and misses
and Tessaro counters with a head kick. That will keep French thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
French thumps Tessaro with a low kick.
Tessaro wants to clinch up but French keeps it at a distance.

French has closed the distance and engaged Tessaro in a clinch.
French unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Tessaro wants a takedown.
French tries for a takedown but Tessaro manages to get underhooks.
Tessaro is looking for a takedown.
Phillip French has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tommy Tessaro.
French looking to throw knees to the head but Tessaro is blocking nicely.
Tessaro takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tessaro is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables French to keep the fight standing.
Tessaro can't break the clinch.
Tessaro tries to pull guard but French holds him up against the cage and eventually Tessaro drops back down to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
French scores a nice knee to the body.

French gets control of Tessaro's arms and successfully pulls guard. French will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
French looking for a sweep. Not yet French, not yet.
French trying to control the position.
Tessaro trying to control but French is working from the bottom.

Phillip French has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

French clinches up with Tessaro and pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
French stalling against the cage.
French creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Tessaro's defenses.
Tessaro is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables French to keep the fight standing.

French jumps into guard, dragging Tessaro to the mat.
Tessaro wants to control from the top but French keeps moving.
Tessaro controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
French working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tessaro.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tommy Tessaro has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Tessaro tries to clinch but French moves out of range.
French shoots in for a double leg but Tessaro sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tessaro shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

French clinches up against the cage.
French trying to land knees to the body.

Tessaro successfully pulls guard.

Tessaro has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes French off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
French throws an overhand right that lands on Tessaro's shoulder, as Tessaro tries to avoid the shot.

French moves into the clinch.
Tessaro managing to block the knees to the body from French.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tessaro is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Tessaro breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

French fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tessaro, pushing him back against the cage.
Tessaro looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

French drags the fight down to the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tessaro sitting in guard, not really doing much.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Phillip French.
I think French has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phillip French!