PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Oliver Queen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darwin France (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Queen comes to the cage accompanied by Fat Joe - Money Over Bitches [Feat Too $hort & TA]. France has chosen bring me to life as his entrance music. This should be a great matchup!

Queen
vs
France

180 cm
30
153 lbs
20 - 14 - 0

185 cm
28
158 lbs
21 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Namunamu Clothing

Project Mayhem

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Oliver Queen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Darwin France!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Cecil Peabody and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

France manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Queen on his heels. He'll look to pass Queen's guard now, I'm sure.

Queen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

France got a little sloppy there for a moment and Queen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, France has managed to get both his arms back between Queen's legs - danger averted.
Queen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Queen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for France!
France really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
France is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
France slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
France moves into full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
France trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

France looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Queen passes into half guard.
Queen slips a nice elbow through France's hands, connecting with France's forehead.
Queen has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Queen trying to control the action but France is working from the bottom.
France is trying to maintain the position but Queen is very close to passing his half guard.
France gets full guard.
France wants to sweep but no luck.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Queen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Queen tries to free his leg and advance position but France is retaining full guard.
Queen advances to half guard.
France manages to get to full guard.
France keeping moving, preventing Queen from controlling successfully.
France is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
France tries to land a sweep but no joy.
France keeps trying to improve his position.
France throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Queen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Queen preventing the sweep.
Queen chips away with some ground and pound.
Queen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
France throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Queen lands a couple of digs.
France is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Queen looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

France is working for a submission of some sort.

France is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Queen has managed to free his arm - good work.
Queen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Queen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

France is looking for a kimura but Queen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for France to get the leverage.
France controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Queen gets back to full guard.

Queen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
France stands and throws Queen's legs to the side, diving into side control.
France trying to control the action but Queen is working from the bottom.
Queen is looking for a sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

France wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Queen, who protects the arm well.
The ground and pound from France seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Darwin France will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Good exchange - France coming out on top.
Darwin France seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Queen gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows France to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Queen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. France is aware though and is defending well.
Queen wants to get back to his feet but France is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

France avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Darwin France has got the better of the ground game so far.
Queen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Queen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Queen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

France has gone for a leg lock! Queen slips out almost immediately though and dives into France's guard.
France 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

France throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Queen wants to control from the top but France keeps moving.
France keeping full guard, as Queen tries to pass.
Queen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Queen distracts France with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Queen trying to control the position from guard on top but France is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

France looking for a guillotine here but Queen defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

France is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Queen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed France's guard.
France is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Queen tries to pass the half guard into mount. France knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Queen lands strikes from half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
France gets back to full guard.

France is looking for a triangle but Queen pushes his legs off easily.
Queen passes France's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

France looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
France is not content to let Queen control the position.
Queen seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Queen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Queen tries to pass the half guard into mount. France knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Queen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
France wants to get back to full guard but Queen has passed into side control.

Queen is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but France is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Queen wants to control but France is keeping him busy.
Queen sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but France is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
France tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Queen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Queen creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Queen landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
France sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
France is looking to improve his position.
France moves into full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Queen is pushing down on France's leg trying to pass to half guard. France is fighting to maintain full guard but Queen has managed to sneak the leg through.
France wants to improve his position but Queen is controlling well.
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 Oliver Queen will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Queen lands a nice shot that snaps France's head back.

France shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
France is thwarting Queen's attempts to control the position.
France is trying to control the action in half guard but Queen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Queen trying to control here.
My spies in Mello MMA inform me that France has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Queen tries to get to full guard but France has control of the leg.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

France is looking for a kimura but Queen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for France to get the leverage.
Queen tries to roll over but France keeps him under control.
Queen blocking the ground and pound attempt from France.
France keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Queen actively working from the bottom here.
France missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

France is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
France wants to pass the guard but Queen is defending well.
France throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Queen is trying to get back to full guard.

France seems to be looking for submissions.
Queen is looking to improve his position.

Queen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
France not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
France is trying to control. Queen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
France performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Queen wants to improve his position but France is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Queen trying to control but France postures up.

France is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Queen is just riding it out for now. France eventually gives up the hold.
France missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Queen wants to get back to full guard.

Queen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but France pulls his head out easily.
France throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Queen to regain full guard.
Queen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from France.
France pushing down on Queen's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Queen actively working from the bottom here.

France looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
France is looking to take a break and control but Queen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
France prevents Queen from improving his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Queen is staying active underneath France, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Queen wants to control but France passes into side.
France throws a strike aimed at the side of Queen's head but Queen avoids it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darwin France comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well France has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Darwin France!
An out of breath Darwin France thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.