PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Artemis Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lewis Soulja (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.

Franco
vs
Soulja

180 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

160 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Artemis Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lewis Soulja!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Peter Branson and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Soulja shoots and misses
letting Franco counter with a right hand.
Soulja gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Franco counters with a straight right hand.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Soulja has eaten all the pies!
Soulja shoots in looking for a takedown. Franco tries to sprawl out of it but Soulja keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Franco manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Artemis Franco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lewis Soulja.
Soulja misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Soulja changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Franco tries to avoid it but Soulja manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Franco to the ground. Franco escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Franco swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Soulja counters by clinching up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franco lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Soulja or not.
Franco scores with a nice hook to the head.
Franco throws an elbow that misses.
Soulja is looking for a takedown.
Franco prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Franco lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Franco makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Franco lands with a short shot to the head.

Soulja escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Soulja throws a sloppy head kick and Franco moves out of range easily.
Soulja on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Franco lands a lovely overhand right.
Soulja tries to close the distance and clinch but Franco swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Soulja moves into the clinch successfully.
Franco is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Soulja being controlled against the cage.
Nice body punch from Franco.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Soulja has had enough of the clinch but Franco keeps him there for the moment.
Franco misses with an elbow strike.
Franco doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Soulja tries a knee to the head but Franco blocks it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Franco is struggling to control the position.
Franco taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Soulja letting Franco take a breather here.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Franco for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.

Soulja pulls guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Soulja holds on and takes a little breather.
Franco is looking to work some ground and pound but Soulja has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Soulja has his foot on Franco's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Franco works his way back into a safe position though.
Soulja keeping full guard, as Franco tries to pass.
Soulja throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Franco sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Franco wants to control from the top but Soulja keeps moving.
Franco throws an elbow that misses. Soulja uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Franco's guard. Nice move by Soulja!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Soulja stands up from Franco's guard - Soulja perhaps looking for a knockout.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Franco.
Soulja tries to clinch but Franco is having none of it.
A little feinted left hand from Franco on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Franco lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Soulja fails to land the takedown.
Soulja with a lazy takedown attempt
and Franco counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Soulja thinking.
Soulja shoots in for a takedown but Franco shows good takedown defense.

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

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

Franco cracks Soulja with a good jab.
Franco misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Soulja feints the counter takedown.
Franco stuffs the takedown.
Franco is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Franco has managed to clinch.
Franco is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Soulja tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Franco has Soulja pushed against the cage.
The referee calls for Franco to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soulja tries to break free but Franco pushes him back against the cage.
Franco works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Franco misses with an elbow strike.
A right hand to the body from Franco.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco displaying some good clinch control by pressing Soulja up against the cage.
Franco tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Soulja misses with a punch to the body.
Franco misses with a hook to the ribs.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Franco tries to break free but Soulja pushes him back against the cage.
Soulja is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Franco pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Artemis Franco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lewis Soulja.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Franco.
Franco keeps control of Soulja as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Franco throws an elbow but it misses.
Franco struggles to land a body shot inside as Soulja controls his hands.

Soulja gets control of Franco's arms and successfully pulls guard. Soulja will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Soulja has a closed guard, preventing Franco from standing up.
Soulja tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco with a flurry of punches that miss.
Soulja trying to control the position here.
Franco sitting in guard here, content to control.
Soulja keeping moving, preventing Franco from controlling successfully.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Franco will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Soulja lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soulja trying to control the position from guard on top but Franco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Soulja is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Soulja throws a big elbow that misses.
Franco trying to keep a closed guard but Soulja is proving a slippery customer.
Franco wants to stand and escape but Soulja is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Artemis Franco is winning the standup battle so far.
Soulja on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's four 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.
Soulja tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Franco defends well and Soulja ends up having to push Franco into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Franco went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Franco catches Soulja with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Franco lands a two punch combo.
Franco is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Soulja changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Franco looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Franco knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Soulja on the ground.
Franco is trying to improve his position.
Franco is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Soulja can do to turn this around?
Soulja working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Franco can't do much from the bottom here.
Franco trying his best to control but Soulja has mounted him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artemis Franco dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Soulja tries for a takedown but Franco sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Soulja dives in and scores a takedown into Franco's guard.
Soulja is standing up over Franco. Franco looks to escape but Soulja dives into side control.

Franco can't do much from the bottom here.
Lewis Soulja has got the better of the ground game so far.
A lull in the action here as Soulja stalls from top position.

Soulja is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Franco is trying to escape and Soulja transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Franco is forced to tap! Nice work there by Soulja! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Lewis Soulja!