PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yohan Francis (ranked 838 p4p, 19 weight class) and Aaron Smith (ranked 1079 p4p, 55 weight class). Smith is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Lonely Train by Black Stone Cherry. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Francis
vs
Smith

196 cm
30
249 lbs
15 - 6 - 0

195 cm
30
280 lbs
13 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Arcticus University: London
Big Chief Nutrition & Laundry Services (80%)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yohan Francis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Aaron Smith!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Sam Margolis and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Francis on the side of the head.
Francis moves out of range of the strikes.
We've been informed that Smith has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Smith misses with an uppercut.
We've been hearing reports that Francis has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Smith uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Francis.
Smith throws a jab when Francis was well out of range.
Francis misses with a looping left.
Francis tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
Francis is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Smith.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Smith! But no joy.
Smith does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Francis walks into a jab.
Smith misses with an uppercut. Francis saw that one coming.
Francis dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Francis. Smith does a little dance to reset his feet.
Smith tests Francis's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Smith takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Smith uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Francis.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Francis wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith connects with a solid leg kick.
The fighters circling - Smith throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Smith gets tackled into the cage by Francis. Francis maintains the clinch.
Francis throws a punch but it's blocked by Smith.
Francis lands a hook that snaps the head of Smith backwards.

It looks like Aaron Smith has been cut.
Francis tries to throw a body punch but Smith avoids it by throwing Francis back against the cage.
Smith throws an elbow but it misses.
Francis lands with a right to the head.
Smith blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Francis lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Smith scores with a nice hook to the head.
Francis fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Smith tries to score a body lock takedown but Francis shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Smith is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Francis can't fight it off and eventually Smith manages to take the fight to the floor. Francis looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Francis keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
Francis is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control but Francis is working from the bottom.
Francis keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
Francis looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Francis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Francis looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Francis has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francis throws a right hand that Smith ducks under and follows up with a left that Smith also avoids with ease.
Jab, jab by Francis - just one landing.
Smith throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Francis on the side of the head.
Smith stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Francis ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Smith shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Francis counters with a right hand to the body.
Smith throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Francis counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Francis is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Smith.
Smith throws a lazy body kick
letting Francis counter with a right hand.
Francis ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.

Francis sends Smith crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Francis is motioning to the referee to let Smith up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!

Smith is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Smith is still on wobbly legs! Can Francis finish him?
Francis lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Smith or not.
Smith looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Francis lands with a right to the head.
Francis lands a big right hand that drops Smith! The killer instinct kicks in and Francis finishes his opponent with a series of strikes from mount. A dominating finish by Francis!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:13 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Yohan Francis!
Our winner, Yohan Francis, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
In defeat, Aaron Smith stepped up to the mic, saying 'No one likes seeing their opponent's hand raised, but that just means that they were the better man today. My team at 3Band MMA and I will break down this match and make the proper changes for my next camp.'.