PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Francis Atkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Monaro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tony Monaro has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Francis Atkins's chin.

Atkins
vs
Monaro

187 cm
24
279 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

209 cm
22
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Francis Atkins!
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, Tony Monaro!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Cecil Peabody and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Monaro misses with the body kick

and Atkins counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Atkins controlling the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Monaro is looking for a sweep. Atkins is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Atkins drops an elbow to the side of Monaro's head.
Monaro is looking to control Atkins's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Monaro avoid being mounted?
Monaro pushes Atkins off looking to stand but Atkins dives back in and keeps control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Monaro manages to get to full guard.
Monaro looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monaro throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Atkins content to stall in guard here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Monaro moves into the clinch.
Atkins trying to control the position but instead, Monaro has worked for underhooks and has pushed Atkins into the cage.
Atkins is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Monaro is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Atkins gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Atkins really is a fat lump.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Atkins pulls guard effortlessly.
Monaro trying to control the position from guard on top but Atkins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Atkins working a defensive guard here.
Monaro in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Monaro wants to control from the top but Atkins keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Monaro won't allow Atkins to get back to his feet.
Monaro sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monaro wants to control from the top but Atkins keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Monaro fails with the takedown

and Atkins counters with a nice double leg into side control. Monaro won't be happy with that.
Atkins throwing strikes but Monaro manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Monaro in side control lands a decent elbow.
Monaro remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monaro in side control, throwing shots but Atkins defends.
Atkins might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Atkins struggling a bit here.
Atkins tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Monaro wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Monaro cracks Atkins with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Monaro wants to take a breather but Atkins manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Monaro.
Monaro trying to control the position from guard on top but Atkins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Monaro wants to stand and escape but instead Atkins has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francis Atkins dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Monaro gets a clinch.
Atkins gets underhooks to prevent Monaro's takedown attempt.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Monaro tries to score a body lock takedown but Atkins shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Monaro looking for a takedown.
Francis Atkins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Monaro.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Monaro doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A bit of stalling here from Atkins.
Atkins is looking to control Monaro's arms but Monaro gets an underhook and turns him. Now Atkins has his back to the cage.
Atkins is stalling here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Francis Atkins.

Monaro closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monaro wants to break the clinch but can't.
Monaro tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Atkins smiles and moves away.
Monaro fails with the takedown
and Atkins counters with a two punch combo.
Monaro misses with a takedown attempt
and Atkins counters with a series of strikes. Monaro will be more careful next time no doubt.
Monaro is breathing heavily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Atkins!

Monaro fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Atkins, pushing him back against the cage.
Monaro misses with an elbow over the top.
Atkins taking a breather.
Atkins looking to slow down the pace here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monaro trying to stall but Atkins improves his position.
Atkins struggles to land a body shot inside as Monaro controls his hands.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Atkins takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Francis Atkins.

Atkins throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Monaro was covering up waiting for the punch and Atkins finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Monaro 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 three minutes gone in the round.
Monaro not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Monaro is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Atkins stops Monaro from standing up.
Monaro is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Atkins with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Atkins tries to keep at a distance but Monaro has taken the fight into the clinch.
Atkins leaning against his opponent.

Atkins jumps guard.
Atkins wants to sweep here but Monaro controlling him for the moment.
Monaro won't allow Atkins to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Monaro looking to pass the guard.
Atkins tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francis Atkins dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Monaro misses with a double jab

and Atkins counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Atkins.
Atkins prevents a body shot from Monaro.
Monaro has Atkins pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Atkins manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Monaro throws a punch but it's blocked by Atkins.

Monaro pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Atkins showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Monaro.

Atkins tries to keep at a distance but Monaro has taken the fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Monaro has had enough of the clinch but Atkins keeps him there for the moment.

Atkins manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Monaro stopping the sweep attempt from Atkins.
Atkins wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Monaro manages to pass to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monaro wants to get back to his feet.
Monaro trying to control the action but Atkins is working from the bottom.
Monaro thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Atkins's head.
Monaro prevents Atkins from improving his position.
Monaro keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

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.
Atkins is looking for a sweep. Monaro is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Monaro landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Monaro performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Monaro wants to lay and pray for a moment but Atkins keeps working.

Monaro is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Atkins defends it well.
Atkins tries to get to full guard but Monaro has control of the leg.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Monaro has closed the distance and engaged Atkins in a clinch.
Atkins is looking to control Monaro's arms but Monaro gets an underhook and turns him. Now Atkins has his back to the cage.
Atkins lands an elbow inside that Monaro shrugs off.

It looks like Tony Monaro has been cut.
Atkins stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Monaro is looking for a takedown.
Atkins dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Atkins pulls guard successfully.
Monaro advances position into side control!
Monaro gets to mount! Atkins was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atkins working to try and regain half guard.
Atkins wants to hold on but Monaro pushes him away.
Monaro can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Atkins is looking to escape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Monaro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Atkins 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Francis Atkins!