PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Constantino Carizzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Carizzo kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is WHY CAN'T WE BE FRIENDS. The key to victory for Constantino Carizzo has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Carizzo
vs
Franco

165 cm
25
186 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

182 cm
26
180 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Very confident

Fatty's

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Constantino Carizzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Franco!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Alexandre Firmino and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franco swats away the attempt to clinch by Carizzo.
Carizzo is looking to clinch but Franco is avoiding it.
Carizzo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Franco swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Franco avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Carizzo tries to clinch there but Franco circles away.
Carizzo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Franco manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Franco takes the fight into the clinch.
Franco is trying to pull guard but Carizzo turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Franco tries to pull guard but Carizzo won't allow it.
Franco is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Carizzo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Constantino Carizzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Franco.

Franco has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Carizzo uses from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Franco wriggles free and stands up.
Carizzo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Franco paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Franco is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Franco displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Franco closes the distance and clinches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Franco is trying to break the clinch but Carizzo has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Franco lands an elbow inside that Carizzo shrugs off.
Carizzo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Franco.
Carizzo wants to stall.
Franco has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Franco is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Carizzo can't fight it off and eventually Franco manages to take the fight to the floor. Carizzo looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Franco trying to control but Carizzo is working from the bottom.
Carizzo wants to stand but Franco is controlling the position.
Carizzo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco wants to control from the top but Carizzo keeps moving.
Carizzo is looking to stand up but Franco isn't so interested in that idea.
Carizzo trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Carizzo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Franco sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Carizzo's guard.
Franco lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Carizzo is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Franco scores with a couple of nice shots.
Franco is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Carizzo!
Carizzo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Carizzo tries to get out of the position.
Franco pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Carizzo wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco punishing his opponent with strikes.
Carizzo trying desperately to get to his feet.
Franco working away from the top, dropping strikes.
You get the feeling that Carizzo really doesn't like being in this position too much.
BOOM! Franco connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Franco controlling the pace for now.
Franco trying to control but Carizzo is having none of it.
The referee warns Carizzo that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Franco stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
The fight stays on the outside here - Carizzo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Constantino Carizzo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Carizzo clinches.
Franco is working for takedown but Carizzo is calmly controlling the position for now.

Franco escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Carizzo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Franco swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Franco now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Carizzo tries to clinch but Franco is having none of it.
Carizzo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Carizzo doesn't manage to clinch there - Franco circles away.
Constantino Carizzo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Franco closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Carizzo breaks the clinch.

Carizzo moves into range and clinches up with Franco.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Franco dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Carizzo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Franco tried to score with a low kick but Carizzo checks it.

Franco gets a clinch.
Carizzo wants to break free but Franco has control.

Franco pulls guard effortlessly.
Franco wants to stand and escape but Carizzo is having none of it.
Carizzo is looking to stand up but Franco won't let him.
Franco lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Franco trying to control the position from guard on top but Carizzo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Carizzo wants to stand up but Franco is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franco controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Franco wants to pass the guard but Carizzo is keeping the position.
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 stands up from Carizzo's guard - Franco perhaps looking for a knockout.
Franco fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Carizzo avoids it really well and circles away.
Franco tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Carizzo tries to clinch but Franco moves out of range.
Carizzo tries to clinch up.
Franco goes for a double leg but Carizzo avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Carizzo continues to drive forward.
Franco shoots in looking for a takedown. Carizzo tries to sprawl out of it but Franco keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Carizzo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Constantino Carizzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Franco.

Franco fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Carizzo, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carizzo is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Franco is keeping busy.
Franco throws an elbow but it misses.
Franco wants to take the fight to the mat but Carizzo manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Franco is trying to stall.
Franco tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Carizzo just stands there and leans against the cage.

Franco pulls Carizzo into guard.
Franco is trying to control the position but Carizzo postures up.
Franco is looking to stand up but Carizzo isn't so interested in that idea.
Franco is breathing heavily.
Franco trying to control the position.

Carizzo gets to his feet - Franco follows without any prompting.
Franco has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Carizzo wants to clinch

and Franco counters with a single leg into guard. Carizzo didn't expect that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carizzo is looking to stand up but Franco isn't so interested in that idea.
Carizzo is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Franco dives into side control.

Carizzo throws Franco to one side and escapes!
Carizzo tries to clinch but Franco moves out of range.

Franco gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Franco has Carizzo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Carizzo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Franco breaks the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Franco looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Carizzo stuffs the takedown.
Carizzo is looking to counter the offense by Franco and move into the clinch.
Carizzo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Franco manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Franco swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Carizzo tries to clinch up but Franco circles away and keeps his distance.
Carizzo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Franco swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco keeps the fight on the outside.
Franco was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Carizzo tries to clinch but Franco moves out of range.
John Franco is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Franco shoots for a double leg takedown but Carizzo sprawls well. He's pushed Franco's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Carizzo wants to clinch up but Franco keeps it at a distance.
Franco swats away the attempt to clinch by Carizzo.
Carizzo tries to clinch up but Franco circles away and keeps his distance.
Carizzo keeps the fight on the outside.
Franco throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Carizzo moves in looking to clinch but Franco pushes him off.
Carizzo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Franco manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Carizzo tries to clinch up but Franco circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Carizzo moves in looking to clinch but Franco pushes him off.
Carizzo leaves Franco with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Franco showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Franco keeps the fight on the outside.
Franco keeps the fight on the outside.
Despite the aggression on Franco's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Carizzo doesn't manage to clinch there - Franco circles away.
Franco steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Carizzo.
Franco avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Carizzo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Franco looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Carizzo is fending him off so far but Franco persists. Nope, Carizzo circles away and we're back to standing.
Carizzo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Carizzo is looking to clinch.
Franco misses with a jab, cross combination.

Carizzo gets caught flat footed, as Franco shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Carizzo has his feet on Franco's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franco takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Carizzo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Franco manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Franco shoots in looking for a takedown. Carizzo tries to sprawl out of it but Franco keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Carizzo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carizzo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Franco swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Carizzo tries to clinch but Franco is having none of it.

Franco closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Carizzo to the mat! Carizzo manages to get full guard.

Carizzo uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Carizzo tries to clinch but Franco moves out of range.
Franco keeps the fight on the outside.
Carizzo tries to close the distance and clinch but Franco swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Franco circles away from the clinch attempt.
Franco feints the counter takedown.
Franco shoots in looking for a takedown but Carizzo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Franco's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Constantino Carizzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Franco.
Carizzo tries to close the distance and clinch but Franco swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Carizzo sets himself, and Franco steps forward looking for the clinch! Carizzo avoids it this time.
Carizzo tries to clinch up.
Franco circles away from the clinch attempt.
Carizzo stuffs the takedown attempt from Franco. Franco gets slowly back to his feet.
Carizzo tries to clinch up.
Constantino Carizzo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carizzo tries to clinch but Franco moves out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Franco! But no joy.
Carizzo wants to clinch.

Carizzo clinches up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Franco avoids the elbow strike from Carizzo, against the cage.
Franco fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Franco is working for takedown but Carizzo is calmly controlling the position for now.
Carizzo is looking to control Franco's arms but Franco gets an underhook and turns him. Now Carizzo has his back to the cage.
Franco has Carizzo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Carizzo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Carizzo lands an elbow inside.
Carizzo stalling the fight.
Nice body punch from Carizzo - that landed with a thud.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Carizzo breaks from the clinch.
Carizzo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Franco manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Carizzo wants to clinch up but Franco keeps it at a distance.
John Franco seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Carizzo tries to clinch up.
Despite the aggression on Franco's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Carizzo tries to clinch there but Franco circles away.
Franco throws a half hearted mid kick.
Carizzo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Franco misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Franco is trying hard to land a takedown here. Carizzo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Carizzo is looking to clinch but Franco is avoiding it.
Carizzo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Franco manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Carizzo is looking to clinch.

Carizzo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Franco, pushing him back against the cage.
Franco takes an elbow to the temple.
Franco jumps guard but Carizzo turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carizzo is looking to control Franco's arms but Franco gets an underhook and turns him. Now Carizzo has his back to the cage.
Carizzo trying to control the position but instead, Franco has worked for underhooks and has pushed Carizzo into the cage.
Franco tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Carizzo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Carizzo lands a hook that snaps the head of Franco backwards.
Franco can't get the takedown.
Franco blocks an elbow strike from Carizzo.
Carizzo lands a nice elbow.
Franco letting Carizzo take a breather here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Franco is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Carizzo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Carizzo tries to work over Franco's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
John Franco is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Carizzo digs a right hand underneath Franco's ribcage. Franco let out a lung full of air as it connected.
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!
Carizzo lands an elbow just above Franco 's eye.

And that's the end of the fight!
Constantino Carizzo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Franco has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Franco!