PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Freedman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Francois Permitis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Freedman
vs
Permitis

190 cm
30
200 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

180 cm
29
190 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

GREEN!160

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 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marcus Freedman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Francois Permitis!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Nard Betker and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Freedman tries to close the distance and clinch but Permitis swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Marcus Freedman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Freedman fails with a takedown attempt.
Freedman closes the distance looking to clinch

and Permitis counters by clinching up.
Freedman fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Permitis has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Freedman after a bit of a struggle.
Freedman lands with a short punch from the clinch.

It looks like Francois Permitis has been cut.
Freedman softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.

Permitis gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Freedman wants to get back to full guard.
Freedman manages to get to full guard.

The fighters are working up against the ropes. Freedman manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freedman lands a left hand that snaps the head of Permitis backwards.
Freedman pushes Permitis back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.

Permitis has clasped his hands together around Freedman's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Freedman manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Freedman is looking to improve his position.
Ground and pound from Permitis.
Freedman wants to get back to full guard.
Freedman moves into full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Freedman throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Freedman manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Permitis manages to get himself to full guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Freedman slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
We've been hearing good reports from Freedman's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Permitis is trying to control Freedman's posture but Freedman avoids it.

Freedman has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
A left and a right from Freedman both land. Nice combination.

Freedman gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Freedman goes for a takedown in the clinch but Permitis prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Freedman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Freedman is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Permitis can't get the takedown.

Freedman tightens his grip and picks Permitis up, before dumping him to the ground. Permitis manages to land in guard.
Our spies down at at Den of Tears (22 coaches, $350 fee) inform us that Permitis has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Freedman looking to sit in guard and control but Permitis gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Freedman is on top in guard.
Freedman is pushing down on Permitis's leg trying to pass to half guard. Permitis is fighting to maintain full guard but Freedman has managed to sneak the leg through.
Permitis keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Freedman wants to pass to mount but Permitis is defending the position.
Permitis is trying to get back to full guard.

Freedman is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Permitis is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Freedman pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Permitis won't allow Freedman to pass to mount.

Permitis is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Freedman pulls his head out easily.
Freedman moves nicely into side control.
Freedman has knee on belly and moves into mount.

Freedman goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Permitis turns into him and now he's in Freedman's guard.
Permitis must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Permitis stopping the sweep attempt from Freedman.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Freedman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Francois Permitis's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Freedman.
Freedman with a hook.
Freedman goes for a double leg but Permitis avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the ropes as Permitis continues to drive forward.
Freedman gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Permitis.
Freedman gets underhooks to prevent Permitis's takedown attempt.

Freedman manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Freedman wants to stand and escape but Permitis is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Permitis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Freedman works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Freedman is on top in guard.
Freedman is pushing down on Permitis's leg trying to pass to half guard. Permitis is fighting to maintain full guard but Freedman has managed to sneak the leg through.

Freedman is looking for a kimura but Permitis is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Freedman to get the leverage.
Freedman working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Permitis's thigh. Permitis counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Freedman wants to pass the guard but Permitis is keeping the position.
Freedman looking to sit in guard and control but Permitis gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Freedman manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Permitis is wriggling around trying to escape.

Freedman moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Permitis has worked his arm free - good work by Permitis!

Freedman decides to stand back up. Freedman steps back and let's Permitis get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Freedman smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Permitis is defended easily by Freedman.
Marcus Freedman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Francois Permitis.
Permitis walks into a left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freedman lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Freedman.
Freedman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Permitis paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Permitis bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Freedman tries to buck Permitis off but Permitis is having none of it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Freedman can't do much from the bottom here.
Permitis lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Freedman is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marcus Freedman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Permitis tries for a kimura but Freedman is defending well.
Freedman tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Freedman throws a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Freedman regains half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Freedman is looking to get back to full guard here but Permitis has managed to pass to side control instead.
Freedman tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Freedman dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Francois Permitis's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Freedman cracks Permitis with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Freedman throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Permitis on the side of the head.

That has opened up Francois Permitis's cut even more.
The fight stays on the outside here - Freedman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Freedman lands a jab.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Freedman.
Freedman shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Permitis sprawls well. Permitis wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Freedman gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Permitis with a poor takedown

and Freedman counters with a single leg into guard. Permitis didn't expect that.
Freedman wants to stand and escape but instead Permitis has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Freedman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Permitis is one step ahead there.
Freedman lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Freedman avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Permitis is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freedman pushing down on Permitis's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Freedman seems to be looking for submissions.
Freedman tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Freedman tries to pass the half guard into mount. Permitis knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Freedman is working hard here to advance position.

Freedman is looking for a kimura but Permitis is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Freedman to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freedman throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Permitis wants to get back to full guard.

Permitis is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Freedman pulls his head out easily.
Freedman wants to pass to mount but Permitis is defending the position.

Freedman is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Freedman looking for a submission but Permitis manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Freedman works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freedman is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Permitis reverses the position - he's now on top in Freedman's guard.
Permitis won't allow Freedman to sweep him here.
Freedman keeping moving, preventing Permitis from controlling successfully.
Freedman looking to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Freedman is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Francois Permitis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marcus Freedman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Permitis lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Freedman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Freedman has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:27
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Freedman!
Marcus Freedman really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Urban Savage logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.