PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Harrison Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Northcut (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Franco
vs
Northcut

209 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

179 cm
25
179 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Harrison Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rick Northcut!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Dean Styles and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franco is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Northcut throws out a counter right but Franco avoids it with no problem.

Franco shoots in and bounces Northcut off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Northcut is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Franco has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franco working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco wants to control from the top but Northcut keeps moving.
Northcut wants to stand and escape but Franco is having none of it.
Franco throws a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Franco accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Northcut wants to stand but Franco is controlling the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Northcut swats away the attempt to clinch by Franco.
Northcut throws out a counter right but Franco avoids it with no problem.

Northcut tries to sprawl but Franco drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Northcut makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Franco gets a takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Northcut blocking the ground and pound attempt from Franco.
Franco prevents Northcut from standing back up.
Franco misses with a head shot. Northcut uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Northcut tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Franco will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Franco throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Northcut manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Northcut is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Franco can't fight it off and eventually Northcut manages to take the fight to the floor. Franco looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Franco looking to control but Northcut passes into half guard.
Franco trying to control but Northcut postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Northcut wants to pass the guard but Franco is defending well.
Northcut is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Franco desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Northcut working over Franco with some ground and pound. Franco looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Northcut prevents Franco from improving his position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Northcut lands a nice short elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Northcut dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Franco shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Northcut manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Franco trying to stand up but can't free himself from Northcut's guard.
Northcut wants to get back to his feet but Franco is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Franco wants to get up but he can't break Northcut's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franco throws a big elbow that misses.

Northcut has his feet on Franco's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Northcut enables Franco to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Northcut manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Northcut is pulling down on Franco's head to control his posture.
Franco prevents Northcut from getting back to his feet.
Franco postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Franco in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Franco prevents Northcut from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco wants to stand but Northcut has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Northcut wants to get back to his feet but Franco passes into half guard.
Northcut wants to get back to his feet.
Northcut tries to roll over but Franco keeps him under control.
Franco looks to land a strike but Northcut avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Northcut is pulling down on Franco's head. It's preventing any offense from Franco, at least for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Franco shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Northcut manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Franco wants to control from the top but Northcut keeps moving.
Franco wants to stand but Northcut is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Northcut is on top in guard.

Franco has an active guard here but Northcut has managed to pass into half guard.
Franco is in trouble now - Northcut has advanced to mount!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Franco taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rick Northcut will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Franco moves into the clinch.
Franco really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Northcut wants the takedown. Franco is fighting it off but Northcut persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Franco's guard against the cage.

Franco has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Northcut is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Franco.
Franco is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Northcut is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Franco is desperately trying to improve his position but Northcut has a good base and remains in mount.
Northcut raining down shots from the mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franco tries to hold on but Northcut postures up.
Franco wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Northcut lands a big shot there that rocks Franco but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Franco keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Northcut lands a big shot there that rocks Franco but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Franco is rocked!
Northcut scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Franco?
Oh Franco is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Northcut postures up and lands a whopping elbow - oh that's hurt Franco bigstyle! Two more strikes land for Northcut and the fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rick Northcut!