PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Juan David Franco (ranked 2495 p4p, 892 weight class) and Kristo Kivi (ranked 312 p4p, 130 weight class). Franco comes to the cage accompanied by Bullet For My Valentine- Tears Don't Fall. Kristo Kivi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Franco
vs
Kivi

188 cm
27
202
15 - 4 - 0

187 cm
37
191
26 - 17 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Knock Out Sups
Furnace Performance 🔥

Conviction
Shadow Realm Apparel

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 15 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Juan David Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Kristo Kivi!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Hugh Johnson and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kivi fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Franco sprawls well initially but Kivi persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franco regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Kivi.
Kivi throwing strikes from guard but Franco blocks nicely.
Kivi is looking to work some ground and pound but Franco has wrist control.
Kivi stays in close to Franco's body and controls the position.
Kivi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Franco is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kivi sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Kivi throwing strikes from guard but Franco blocks nicely.
Franco knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kivi on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco is looking to stand up but Kivi isn't so interested in that idea.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Kivi works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Kivi throwing shots but Franco is blocking nicely.

That's two 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.
Kivi content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Franco throws a wild body kick that Kivi sees coming a mile off.
Franco takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

It looks like Kristo Kivi has been cut.
Franco throws a body shot but no joy.
Kivi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kivi takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Kivi moves out of range of the strikes.
Kivi moves away from the strike by Franco.

Kivi takes the fight into the clinch.
Kivi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Franco is fighting off a takedown attempt but Kivi is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Franco to the mat. Franco regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Kivi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kivi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kivi throwing strikes but missing.
Kivi is in close to Franco's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kivi is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Kivi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Franco is keeping the position for now.
Kivi wants to control from the top but Franco keeps moving.
Kivi pushing down on Franco's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kivi lands a nice short elbow.
Kivi stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kivi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Franco keeps working.
Kivi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kivi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kivi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kivi scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kivi is figuring out what he wants to do next.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kristo Kivi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kristo Kivi's cut.
That's time! Franco's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kivi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Franco momentarily.
Kivi throws a big shot that misses.
A big right from Franco misses.
Franco misses with a looping right.
Franco loads up on a big right hand but Kivi slips the punch.
Nice body punch from Kivi.
Kivi works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Franco drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kivi works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Kivi fails in his attempt to clinch.

Kivi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Franco, pushing him back against the cage.
Franco is trying to break free.
Franco wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Franco working hard to break the clinch.
Kivi wants to take the fight to the mat but Franco manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Kivi - that landed with a thud.
Kivi scores with a shoulder strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kivi leaning against his opponent.
Franco looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco gets underhooks to prevent Kivi's takedown attempt.
Kivi scores with a shot to the side of Franco's head.
Kivi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Franco manages to break the clinch.
Franco bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kivi's head.
Franco looks to land a combination but Kivi avoids it well.
Kivi swings for the body but Franco moves out of range.

Kivi pushes Franco up against the cage in a clinch.
Franco is pressed up against the cage. Kivi has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Franco down to the mat. Franco avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Juan David Franco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kristo Kivi.
Franco moves out of range of the strikes.
Kivi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Franco.

Kivi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kivi working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kivi can't find room to land a body shot as Franco controls the action.

Franco's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Franco throws a hook but Kivi blocks it.
Franco misses the jab.

Kivi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kivi misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco takes a shot to the head.
Franco has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kivi holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Franco breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Franco wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kivi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Franco moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kivi takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Kivi has managed to clinch.
Franco is trying to push Kivi away but Kivi has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Franco wants to get back to striking at distance but Kivi won't allow it.
Kivi misses with a punch on the inside.
Franco is looking to break free of the clinch but Kivi has double underhooks.
Franco wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kivi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Franco breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Franco looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Franco lands a head kick!
Franco connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kivi looks to land a left hand but Franco moved out of range nicely.
Franco throwing a counter right hand but Kivi manages to avoid it.
Kivi connects with a jab.
Franco walks into a left hand.
Franco throws a hook but Kivi avoids it easily.
Kivi moves in looking to clinch but Franco pushes him off.
Kivi moves in looking to clinch but Franco pushes him off.
Jab from Kivi.
Kivi lands with a hook. Franco tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Kivi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Franco.
Franco looks to land a combination but Kivi avoids it well.
Franco throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kivi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kivi ducks under a wild hook from Franco.
Kivi lands a nice shot that snaps Franco's head back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Franco pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nice defenses there by Kivi.
Franco fails to land with a series of punches.
A nice side step and Kivi releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Kivi scores with a nice strike.
Franco throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kivi.
Kivi looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Juan David Franco is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kivi fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kivi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Kivi moves into the clinch.
Good body shot from Kivi.
Kivi softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kivi lands a right hand that snaps the head of Franco backwards.
Franco is trying to force a seperation but Kivi has the dominant position.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Kivi takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A short uppercut from Kivi.
Kivi lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Franco or not.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kivi is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Franco pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Franco pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A left lands for Kivi.

Franco is rocked!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Franco misses with a body shot.
Kivi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Franco looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kivi connects with a jab.
Oh Franco is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A decent looking cross lands there for Kivi.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kristo Kivi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kristo Kivi's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Kivi moves into the clinch successfully.
Kivi has Franco pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Franco manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Franco seems to have got his legs back now.
Kivi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kivi can't get the takedown.
Kivi lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Kivi - that landed with a thud.
Franco is trying to break the clinch but Kivi has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Franco's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kivi.
Kivi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Franco gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Juan David Franco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kristo Kivi.
Kivi wants a takedown.
Kivi stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kivi prevents Franco from breaking the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kivi lands an uppercut.
Franco wants to break the clinch but can't.
Franco is trying to break the clinch but Kivi has him pressed against the cage.
Franco has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Franco looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kivi scores with a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kivi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Franco's efforts to push away.
Kivi lands a right hand that snaps the head of Franco backwards.
Franco wants to get back to striking at distance but Kivi won't allow it.
Kivi is looking to take this one to the mat.

Kivi lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Kivi passes to side control.
Kivi creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Kivi throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
An elbow from Kivi crashes against the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The referee asks Kivi politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Kivi prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kivi fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Kivi throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Kivi lands a few punches from side control.
Kivi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Franco keeps working.
Juan David Franco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sloppy strikes there by Kivi.
Franco on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Franco tries to get out of the position.
Kivi throws a strike aimed at the side of Franco's head but Franco avoids it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kivi working the ground and pound.
Kristo Kivi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kristo Kivi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kivi controls the position from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kivi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kivi misses with a double jab.

Franco gets caught napping as Kivi dives in and scores a takedown. Franco manages to retain guard.
Kivi sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kivi's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Franco wants to stand up but Kivi is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kristo Kivi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kivi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kristo Kivi!