PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Stevie Franchise (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Felipe Cirkunov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Stevie Franchise has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Franchise
vs
Cirkunov

178 cm
20
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
25
156 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Stevie Franchise!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Felipe Cirkunov!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, William Peck and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cirkunov on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Cirkunov throws an off balance right hand
and Franchise counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Cirkunov tries for a takedown but Franchise sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Cirkunov has taken the fight to the clinch.

Cirkunov jumps guard.
Franchise stays in close to Cirkunov's body and controls the position.
Franchise trying to control but Cirkunov is working from the bottom.
Cirkunov trying to control the position.
Franchise controls from within his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cirkunov keeping moving, preventing Franchise from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cirkunov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cirkunov looking for a sweep. Not yet Cirkunov, not yet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Franchise throws a series of punches but Cirkunov avoids them all with ease.
Cirkunov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Franchise's waist but Franchise gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cirkunov off to one side.
Franchise scores with a hook to the body. Cirkunov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Franchise lands a really nice looking cross but Cirkunov seems unphased.
Franchise lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Cirkunov at a distance.

Cirkunov moves into the clinch successfully.

Cirkunov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Franchise misses with a jab, cross combination.
Franchise uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Franchise throws a nice inside leg kick.
Stevie Franchise is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice shot by Franchise.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Franchise punishes Cirkunov's body with a nice straight punch.
Franchise lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Cirkunov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Franchise lunges at Cirkunov with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Cirkunov's hand.
Cirkunov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Franchise sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cirkunov somewhat.
Stevie Franchise has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Felipe Cirkunov.
Franchise looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Franchise tries to bum rush Cirkunov with a series of wild strikes but Cirkunov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Franchise wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Cirkunov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Franchise defends it nicely.
Franchise looks to land a combination but Cirkunov avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franchise connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Franchise misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Franchise throws a one two combo.
Danga de danga de dang - Franchise scores with a four punch combination!
Franchise tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cirkunov was well out of range. Poor timing from Franchise.
Franchise throws out a powerful jab.
Cirkunov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Franchise lands a nice shot that snaps Cirkunov's head back.
Cirkunov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Franchise sprawls well. Franchise wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cirkunov gets slowly back to his feet.

Cirkunov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Franchise, pushing him back against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Franchise gets underhooks to prevent Cirkunov's takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cirkunov tries to pull guard but Franchise holds him up against the cage and eventually Cirkunov drops back down to his feet.

Cirkunov is trying to trip Franchise. He has hold of a leg but Franchise is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Cirkunov persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Franchise is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Franchise is adopting a defensive guard.
Cirkunov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stevie Franchise dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Franchise throws a leg kick but Cirkunov sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Franchise connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Franchise lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Cirkunov has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Cirkunov and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Cirkunov tries to counter with a clinch but Franchise shakes him off and moves away.
Franchise closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Cirkunov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Franchise is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cirkunov can do to turn this around?
Franchise misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cirkunov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Franchise.
Danga de danga de dang - Franchise scores with a four punch combination!

Cirkunov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Franchise's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Franchise keeping moving, preventing Cirkunov from controlling successfully.
Franchise is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cirkunov gets to his feet - Franchise follows without any prompting.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franchise misses with a head kick.
Some wild striking there from Franchise.
Cirkunov is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Franchise swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Cirkunov counters with a single leg into guard. Franchise didn't expect that.
Franchise utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cirkunov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cirkunov looking to sit in guard and control but Franchise gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Cirkunov is trying to control the position but Franchise postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cirkunov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Franchise gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Cirkunov working a defensive guard here.

Cirkunov isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Franchise stacks Cirkunov on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Franchise!
Cirkunov tries to bench press Franchise off him but Franchise keeps the position.
Cirkunov is trying to control Franchise's posture but Franchise avoids it.
Franchise advances nicely into full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franchise controlling the position easily from mount.
Cirkunov working to try and regain half guard.
Cirkunov is squirming around, avoiding Franchise's attempts to control the action.
Franchise tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Franchise's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Franchise wants to control the pace but Cirkunov is squirming around nicely.

That's four 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.
Cirkunov sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Cirkunov trying to control from the bottom.

Cirkunov looking for subs from the bottom but Franchise mounts him!
Franchise looking to finish with strikes here!
Franchise avoids the attempt from Cirkunov to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stevie Franchise dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Franchise displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Cirkunov misses with a takedown attempt - Franchise sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cirkunov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Cirkunov clinches.
Franchise looking to throw knees to the head but Cirkunov is blocking nicely.
Cirkunov leaning against his opponent.
Cirkunov leaning his opponent against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Franchise escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cirkunov shoots in for a takedown but Franchise shows good takedown defense.
Franchise scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Franchise throws a right hand that Cirkunov ducks under and follows up with a left that Cirkunov also avoids with ease.
Franchise lands with a right hand.
Cirkunov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Franchise moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Stevie Franchise is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cirkunov is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Franchise.
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!
Franchise checks the leg kick nicely there.
Stevie Franchise is winning the standup battle so far.

Cirkunov closes the distance and clinches.
Franchise is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Cirkunov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cirkunov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Franchise with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Cirkunov has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Cirkunov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Franchise lands a jab to the nose.
Cirkunov falls off balance throwing a combination
and Franchise counters with a one-two to the body.
Cirkunov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Franchise paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Franchise avoids the head kick by Cirkunov.
Franchise scores with a decent looking hook.
Franchise throws a head kick that misses.
Franchise scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Franchise connects with a good right hand that stumbles Cirkunov. Cirkunov circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Franchise lands a nice hook to Cirkunov's body. Cirkunov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Cirkunov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franchise lands a nice shot to the body.
No luck for Cirkunov with that takedown attempt.
Stevie Franchise has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Felipe Cirkunov.
Cirkunov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Franchise lands with an uppercut that bounces Cirkunov off the cage and back into range.
Franchise throws a sloppy head kick and Cirkunov moves out of range easily.
Franchise connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Cirkunov momentarily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Franchise lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Cirkunov slips a jab and a cross from Franchise.
Cirkunov is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Franchise fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Cirkunov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Franchise.
Cirkunov throws a head kick that misses.
Franchise throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cirkunov slips a jab from Franchise.
Cirkunov throws a right hand that misses
and Franchise counters with a straight right hand.
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!
Franchise throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Cirkunov counters by moving into the clinch.
Cirkunov taking a breather.
Franchise misses with a punch to the body.
Cirkunov tries to score a body lock takedown but Franchise shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cirkunov tries to pull guard but Franchise holds him up against the cage and eventually Cirkunov drops back down to his feet.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Stevie Franchise showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Franchise, 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stevie Franchise!