PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Leif Vargas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sandro Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sandro Franco has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Vargas
vs
Franco

150 cm
19
140 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

150 cm
24
130 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Leif Vargas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sandro Franco!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Saam Ante and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Vargas closes the distance and pushes Franco back into the cage.
Vargas could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Franco looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Franco is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Vargas can't fight it off and eventually Franco manages to take the fight to the floor. Vargas looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Franco wants to pass the guard but Vargas is keeping the position.
Vargas 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.
Franco pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vargas is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franco connects with a couple of short punches.
Franco trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Franco trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Vargas manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Vargas throwing strikes from guard but Franco blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franco is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Vargas is controlling him.
Vargas with a flurry of punches that miss.
Vargas missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Franco working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vargas.
Franco wants to stand up but Vargas is controlling him.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Franco utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

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

Franco drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Franco throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Franco looking to pass the guard.
Vargas tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco trying to control but Vargas is working from the bottom.
Vargas bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Franco's guard.

Vargas throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Franco works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Franco trying to control the position.
Vargas lands a couple of elbows.
Franco wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Vargas manages to pass to side control.
Franco is staying active underneath Vargas, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vargas.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Franco can do anything to dispel that myth.
Vargas stops Franco from getting back to his feet.
Franco keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vargas wants to stand up but Franco has a hold of him and won't allow it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Vargas darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leif Vargas dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Vargas rushes Franco and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Vargas is looking to break free of the clinch but Franco has double underhooks.

Vargas pulls Franco into guard.
Vargas has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Franco is in close to Vargas's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Vargas is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Franco is aware though and is defending well.
Franco working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Vargas's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franco trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Vargas manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Franco wants to stand up but Vargas is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vargas postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Vargas loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Franco is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Vargas with a flurry of punches that miss.
Vargas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Franco can do to turn this around?
Vargas won't allow Franco to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Franco is pulling down on Vargas's head to control his posture.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Franco wants to stand and escape but Vargas is having none of it.

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

Vargas closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Vargas thows a huge punch but Franco dodges it nicely.
Franco blocking the ground and pound attempt from Vargas.

Vargas is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Franco is just riding it out for now. Vargas eventually gives up the hold.
Franco tries to kick Vargas off but Vargas keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco is trying is best to control the position here.
Franco avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vargas.

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

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.

Franco changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Vargas looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Franco in side control, throwing shots but Vargas defends.
Vargas prevents Franco from improving position.
Franco landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Vargas is trying to control Franco's posture but Franco avoids it.
Franco creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vargas takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Franco working the head with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leif Vargas dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Franco shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Vargas wants to control but Franco is keeping busy.
Franco missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Franco trying to control the action but Vargas is working from the bottom.
Franco thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Vargas's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vargas is staying active underneath Franco, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franco is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Vargas as he works his way to full guard.
Franco is looking to advance position but Vargas has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Franco is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Vargas sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vargas with shots to the head and body - Franco looks very uncomfortable down there.
Vargas misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Franco is looking to improve his position but Vargas isn't that keen on the idea.
Franco trying desperately to get to his feet.
Franco takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Vargas with the ground and pound from mount.
Vargas misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vargas throws some wild stikes that Franco manages to avoid easily.
Franco avoids a series of strikes thrown by Vargas.
Franco is trying to escape the mount.
Sandro Franco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vargas throws some wild stikes that Franco manages to avoid easily.
Franco is looking to improve his position but Vargas isn't that keen on the idea.
Franco is still trying to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Franco is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Franco wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Vargas.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vargas fails to move to back control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leif Vargas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Vargas has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leif Vargas!