PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Freddy Francis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandon Walker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Francis
vs
Walker

186 cm
25
200 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

188 cm
19
205 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

SHINTO

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Freddy Francis!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Brandon Walker!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Francis stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Francis wants it to stay on the feet.
Francis is looking for a counter combo.
Francis listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Walker tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Francis swivels and escapes.
Francis throws a big counter combination but Walker scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Some wild striking there from Francis.
Francis scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Francis stuffs the takedown.
Freddy Francis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandon Walker.
Francis stuffs the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Francis misses with a few strikes there.
Walker closes the distance but Francis moves to the side
and Francis counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Walker wants to clinch up but Francis keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walker shoots and misses

and Francis counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Francis.
Walker is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Walker tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Francis breaks the clinch.
Walker misses with a takedown attempt
and Francis counters with a two punch combo.
Walker has his takedown stuffed
and Francis counters with a right hand to the body.
Walker throws an overhand right that lands on Francis's shoulder, as Francis tries to avoid the shot.
Francis with a nice cross.
Walker's coach down at Schneebly's Circuit Training was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Walker's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Francis swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Francis looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Walker fails with the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walker tries to move into range but Francis moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Francis misses with an uppercut. Walker saw that one coming.
Walker has his takedown stuffed
and Francis counters with a stiff right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Walker shoots in but no luck this time.
Francis throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Walker.
Francis throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Walker is rocked!
Francis throws a series of punches but Walker moves out of range.
Walker is still on wobbly legs! Can Francis finish him?
Francis lands a body shot.
Walker fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Francis avoids it really well and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walker will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Walker seems to have recovered his senses.
Freddy Francis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Francis clinches with his opponent.
Francis comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Francis slowing the pace effectively.
Walker is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Francis pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Francis lands a nice uppercut.
Francis lands an elbow that stopped Walker in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Brandon Walker has been cut.
Walker is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Francis gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Francis taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Walker looking for a takedown.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Francis.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walker is looking to take this one to the mat.

Francis breaks the clinch.
Walker takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Walker looks for a takedown but Francis sprawls well.
Walker shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Francis tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Walker manages to circle out of the way.
No joy there for Francis, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Francis throws a combination that misses

and Walker decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Francis's guard.
Walker looks winded!
Walker is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Francis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Walker.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Freddy Francis dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Brandon Walker's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Francis forces Walker back against the cage and clinches.
Francis struggles to land a body shot inside as Walker controls his hands.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Walker is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Francis is defending well.
Francis works on Walker's body with a couple of short punches.
Walker throws an elbow that misses.
Walker wants a takedown but no success here.
Francis blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Walker swings wildly with an uppercut but Francis uses good head movement to avoid it.
Walker is looking for a takedown.
Freddy Francis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandon Walker.

Francis breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Francis throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Walker stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Walker dodges the punch combination from Francis.
Francis defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Walker.
It looked like Francis was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Francis throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Francis throws a nice looking combination but Walker bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Francis will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Walker darts in looking for a takedown but Francis gets double underhooks and turns Walker into the cage.
Francis went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Walker fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Walker wants to clinch
and Francis counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Francis closes the distance and clinches.
Walker looking to slow down the pace here.

Francis's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Francis misses the shot to the body.
Brandon Walker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Francis. Walker does a little dance to reset his feet.
Francis scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Walker doesn't seem bothered though.
Francis goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Francis misses with a double jab.
Walker closes the distance but Francis moves to the side
and Francis counters with a three punch combo that has Walker backing up. Walker nods at Francis to acknowledge the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Walker scores with a takedown into Francis's guard.
Francis knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Walker on the ground.
Walker wants to control from the top but Francis keeps moving.
Francis avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Walker controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Walker landing some decent shots from guard.
Walker stays in close to Francis's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walker postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Francis wants to get back to his feet but Walker is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A punch combination from Francis misses.

Francis moves into the clinch.
Walker has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Francis after a bit of a struggle.
Walker goes for a takedown attempt but Francis pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Walker shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Francis as he avoids it easily.
Walker is breathing heavily.
Walker fails with the takedown
and Francis counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Freddy Francis dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Brandon Walker's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Francis will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Freddy Francis is winning the standup battle so far.

Walker gets tackled into the cage by Francis. Francis maintains the clinch.
Francis managing to block the knees to the body from Walker.

Francis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Walker shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Francis as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Francis misses with a series of wild punches.
Francis misses the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Francis throws a body shot but no joy.
Walker showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Francis.
And Walker tries to counter it with a takedown but Francis pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Walker is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Walker misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Francis fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Walker with a poor takedown

and Francis moves into the clinch.
Freddy Francis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandon Walker.
Walker takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Francis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A telegraphed right hand from Francis misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Walker drives through with a takedown into guard.
Walker working some strikes from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Francis keeping moving, preventing Walker from controlling successfully.
Walker throws a big elbow that misses.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Walker's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Walker is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Francis keeping moving, preventing Walker from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walker slips nicely into half guard.
Walker perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Walker is continuing to stall.
Francis is trying to get back to full guard.
Walker passes to side control.
Francis on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Francis tries to get out of the position.

Walker is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Francis is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Francis managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Walker.
Walker controls the position.
Walker has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Walker working the head with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Freddy Francis did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The cut man is working on Brandon Walker's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Walker drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Francis keeping moving, preventing Walker from controlling successfully.
Walker engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Walker slips nicely into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Walker content to control rather than advance.
Francis is in trouble now - Walker has advanced to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walker landing punches.
BOOM! Walker connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Brandon Walker has got the better of the ground game so far.
Walker landing strikes, looking to finish!
Walker landing strikes from the mount and Francis is in trouble!

Francis is rocked!
Walker lands a big elbow - Francis is in trouble! More strikes from the mount and Francis is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Brandon Walker! Brandon Walker retains his light heavyweight title!
Brandon Walker decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
Freddy Francis spoke after the fight, saying 'I'll be back'.