PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gene Franco (ranked 3367 p4p, 436 weight class) and Ramon Diaz (ranked 3835 p4p, 496 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Franco
vs
Diaz

200 cm
25
220 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gene Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ramon Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Luis Engracia and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Diaz shoots in and drives through. Franco sprawls well.

Franco throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Diaz was covering up waiting for the punch and Franco finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Franco postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Diaz is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Franco, into his guard.

Franco has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

Diaz stands and steps away. Franco gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sloppy strikes from Franco. Those never looked like landing.
Franco shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Diaz pinned against the cage. Diaz gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Franco appears to be looking for a big counter.
Gene Franco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ramon Diaz.
Franco stuffs the takedown attempt from Diaz. Diaz gets slowly back to his feet.

Diaz tries to keep at a distance but Franco has taken the fight into the clinch.
Diaz drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Franco gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Franco turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Diaz tries to bench press Franco off him but Franco keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Diaz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diaz is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Franco performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Diaz works his way to full guard. Good work.
Franco's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Diaz is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Franco slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Franco has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Diaz controlling the action here for a moment.
Diaz jumps guard but Franco stands there with Diaz around his waist. Diaz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Franco is trying to trip Diaz. He has hold of a leg but Diaz is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Franco persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Franco accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Franco got a little sloppy there for a moment and Diaz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Franco has managed to get both his arms back between Diaz's legs - danger averted.
Franco postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Franco is one step ahead there.
Franco's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Diaz keeping moving, preventing Franco from controlling successfully.
Diaz looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Franco puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Franco thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Diaz trying to hold on to Franco's head to control him but Franco postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gene Franco will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Franco forces Diaz back against the cage and clinches.

Diaz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Franco changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Diaz looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Diaz throws Franco to one side and escapes!
Diaz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Franco appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Diaz throws a head kick but Franco moves out of range.
Franco shoots in and drives through. Diaz sprawls well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Diaz tries a head kick but it misses.
A little feinted left hand from Franco on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch but Franco swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Franco feinted with a counter takedown.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Franco.
And Diaz tries to counter it with a takedown but Franco pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Franco drives through with a takedown into guard.

Diaz scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Diaz tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Franco defends well and Diaz ends up having to push Franco into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Franco swats away the attempt to clinch by Diaz.
Franco feinted with a counter takedown.
Diaz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Franco wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Franco dives in and grabs Diaz's left leg, looking for a takedown. Diaz pushes down on Franco's head and hops out.

Franco closes the distance and clinches.

Franco pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Good leg kick by Diaz there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Diaz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Franco avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Diaz.
Franco avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Franco throws a front kick that sends Diaz stumbling back into the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diaz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Franco sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Franco feinted with a counter takedown.
Gene Franco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ramon Diaz.

Franco closes the distance and clinches.

Franco's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown but Franco shows good takedown defense.

Franco closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Franco avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Diaz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Franco just stands there and leans against the cage.
Franco stops a takedown attempt from Diaz.
Diaz is breathing heavily.

Franco manages to break the clinch.
Franco slaps away a takedown attempt from Diaz, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Diaz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Franco's waist but Franco gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Diaz off to one side.
Franco leaves Diaz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Diaz shoots and misses

and Franco counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Franco.
Franco gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Diaz.

Franco drags the fight down to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz being controlled here momentarily.
Franco's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Diaz trying to control but Franco is working from the bottom.
Franco wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Gene Franco will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

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

Franco is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Diaz manages to break the clinch.

Franco drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Franco stands up from guard. Let's bang!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diaz lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Franco keeps the fight on the outside.

Franco looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Franco stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Franco misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gene Franco is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco swings and misses with a hook to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Franco lands an uppercut.
Diaz blocks the elbow strike.
Diaz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Franco just stands there and leans against the cage.
Diaz wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Franco manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Diaz on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Diaz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Franco walks away with a smile on his face. Diaz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Diaz looks to land a combination. Franco sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Franco is rocked!
Diaz dances in with a quick combination. Franco is being worked over with jabs and crosses. Oooh, a right straight from Diaz snaps Franco's head back. Franco stumbles backwards against the cage. Diaz steps forward and delivers a right cross that connects with Franco's jaw, simultaneously knocking him out and sending his mouthpiece into the crowd! There's a worthy souvenir for the fans. This one is over folks. Franco just didn't come prepared.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Ramon Diaz!