PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Phil French (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Florian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

French
vs
Florian

220 cm
23
150 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

178 cm
19
148 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Vicious Nutrition (159 Recovery With Proof)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Phil French!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Mario Florian!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Ackerman and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Florian.
A head kick misses from Florian.
Florian fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but French avoids it really well and circles away.
French fails with the takedown

and Florian counters with a nice double leg into side control. French won't be happy with that.
Florian working away.
French is trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
French manages to get back to half guard.
French is trying to maintain the position but Florian is very close to passing his half guard.
Florian prevents French from improving his position.
Florian thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

French kicks Florian off and gets back to his feet.

French has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Florian has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but French regains guard immediately.
French seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Florian works over French with some ground and pound from guard.
French really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Florian accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Florian working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
French controls Florian momentarily but Florian frees himself.
Florian is working French over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Florian works over French with some ground and pound from guard.
Florian with a flurry of punches that miss.
Florian works a leg free and moves into half guard.
French is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Florian throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Florian looks gassed!
French wants to improve his position but Florian is controlling well.
Florian looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks French with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
French wants to control but Florian is keeping busy and won't allow it.
French is holding on to half guard well.
French avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Florian.
French is trying to maintain the position but Florian is very close to passing his half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Florian throws a combination but it was largely blocked by French.
French wants to clinch but Florian slips to the side

and Florian counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
French avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Florian with a flurry of punches that miss.

French is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Florian has his hands clasped together but French extends an breaks Florian's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by French.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Phil French!