PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tiago Franco (ranked 4288 p4p, 0 weight class) and Caniel Dormier (ranked 2823 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Franco
vs
Dormier

180 cm
24
155 lbs
4 - 10 - 0

174 cm
28
153 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Good knees
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 4 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tiago Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Caniel Dormier!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, John Roberts and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Franco has Dormier up against the cage in a clinch.
Franco prevents the takedown attempt.
A right hand to the body from Franco.

Franco drags the fight down to the ground.
Dormier trying to control but Franco is working from the bottom.
Franco manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Dormier manages to get himself to full guard.

Franco keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Dormier's head.
Franco slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Franco scoring with some ground and pound.

Dormier is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Franco defends well.

Dormier looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franco scoring with some ground and pound.
Franco stays in close to Dormier's body and controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dormier is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Franco is aware though and is defending well.
Franco engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Franco scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Franco scoring with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franco slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Dormier is looking for a sweep.
Franco working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Dormier takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Franco working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Franco content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Franco is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Dormier has escaped the position, nice work there.
Dormier tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dormier is still trying to improve position.
Franco lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Dormier down.
Franco is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Dormier will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Dormier taking punishment in the form of punches.
Franco lands a few punches from side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Franco in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Franco in side control lands a decent elbow.
Franco cracks Dormier with a big elbow.
Dormier is looking to regain half guard here but Franco keeps moving and retains side control.
Franco in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Franco has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Franco lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
A lull in the action here.

Franco looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Dormier tries to bench press Franco off him but Franco keeps the position.
Dormier is letting Franco control him for a moment.
Dormier is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Dormier's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Franco remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco lands an elbow.
Franco works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Franco cracks Dormier with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Dormier is trying to escape the position but Franco is controlling the position.
Dormier taking a bit of punishment here - Franco scoring with strikes.
Franco lands a few punches from side control.
Franco scores with a couple of short elbows.

Dormier is rocked!

Franco in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Dormier is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Tiago Franco!