PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Erasmo Francis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Newell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Francis
vs
Newell

154 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

177 cm
23
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Erasmo Francis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Robert Newell!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Elvis Blanc and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Francis ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Newell moves away.
Newell connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Newell fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Francis drives through and clinches with Newell against the cage.

Newell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Newell blocks a head kick by Francis.
Francis wants to clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Francis.

Newell looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Francis!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Newell tries to advance to mount but can't.
Francis is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Newell is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Francis seems a little lost for a moment, as Newell dominates the positioning.
Francis might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Newell tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Newell throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Newell wants to control but Francis is keeping him busy.

Newell is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Francis knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Newell stands up and beckons Francis to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Francis shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Newell but Newell pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Newell leaves Francis with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erasmo Francis. That's going to take a lot out of him.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Francis enables Newell to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Francis manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Newell controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Francis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Francis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Newell gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newell trying to control the position from guard on top but Francis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Francis looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Francis wants to sweep but no luck.
Newell's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Newell is looking to pass into half guard but Francis pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Francis is in guard.
Newell trying to control the position.
Newell bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Francis's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Francis keeping moving, preventing Newell from controlling successfully.
Francis is trying to keep Newell in close.

Francis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Francis is breathing heavily.
Newell looking to pass the guard.
Newell controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Francis could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Newell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Newell dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Francis goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Newell moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Newell.
Newell moves in looking to clinch but Francis pushes him off.
Newell blocks a head kick by Francis.

Newell closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Newell really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Francis. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Newell missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Newell tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Francis.
Newell wants to lay and pray for a moment but Francis keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newell tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Francis.
Francis is trying to control but can't.
Newell not doing much here.

Robert Newell has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Newell throws a series of punches but Francis avoids them all with ease.
Newell scores with a push kick.
Francis closes the distance and clinches up with Newell, looking for a takedown. Francis pushes Newell against the cage but Newell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Francis tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Newell was well out of range. Poor timing from Francis.
Newell shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Francis as he avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newell misses with a jab, cross combination.
Newell fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Newell looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Francis looking for a guillotine here but Newell defends easily.
Newell works over Francis with some ground and pound from guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Francis being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newell looking to pass the guard.
Newell wants to control from the top but Francis keeps moving.

Newell decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Nice takedown defense from Newell. No joy for Francis on that attempt.

Newell takes the fight into the clinch.
Newell fails to pull guard.
Erasmo Francis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert Newell.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newell is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Francis blocks a body shot from Newell.
Francis prevents the takedown attempt.

Newell has clasped his hands together around Francis's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Newell tries to advance to mount but can't.
Newell working away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Francis is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Francis trying to hold on to Newell's head to control him but Newell postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Newell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Francis misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Newell misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Newell fails in his attempt to clinch.

Newell has taken the fight to the clinch.
Newell tries for a takedown but Francis manages to get underhooks.
Francis on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Newell tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Erasmo Francis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert Newell.
Francis tries for a takedown. No joy.

Newell has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Francis uses from the top position.

Newell escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Francis gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Newell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Newell looking for subs off his back but Francis has passed one foot through into half guard.
Newell avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Francis.
Newell is looking to improve his position.
Newell trying to get back to full guard but Francis takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Newell reaches up to try and control the position but Francis seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Newell rolls and tries to escape and now Francis has his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Francis tries to keep control of the position but Newell is staying busy.

Francis looking for the choke from the back.
Newell is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

Francis patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Newell is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Francis.
Newell needs to remain patient if he's going to get out of this sticky situation.
Newell wants to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francis throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Francis tries to keep control of the position but Newell is staying busy.
Francis is hanging on to Newell's back as he tries to escape.
Francis trying to control momentarily.
Newell trying to control but not successfully.
Francis has the hooks in. Newell is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Robert Newell has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Newell is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Francis gets his way!
Newell trying to control the hands but Francis breaks the grip.
Francis misses with a punch to the head.
Francis gets his hands free as Newell looks to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Francis is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Francis gets his hands free as Newell looks to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Erasmo Francis.
Well Newell has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robert Newell!