PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Luiz Franca (ranked 733 p4p, 100 weight class) and Lyoto Yoshida (ranked 1619 p4p, 204 weight class). Franca comes to the ring accompanied by The Greatest Showman. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Franca
vs
Yoshida

188 cm
33
185 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

196 cm
26
189 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Luiz Franca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lyoto Yoshida!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Taro Takaoka and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franca takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

It looks like Luiz Franca has been cut.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Yoshida will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Franca shoots in and gets a takedown into Yoshida's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Franca accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Franca throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yoshida works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Franca scoring with punches to the head and body.

Franca avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
We've been hearing that Franca has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

Franca drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Yoshida manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Franca has Yoshida in his guard.

Yoshida stopping the sweep attempt from Franca.

Franca looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Franca is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Yoshida controls from within his opponent's 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshida trying to control the position from guard on top but Franca is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Franca tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Yoshida slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Franca looking for a sweep. Not yet Franca, not yet.
Yoshida sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Yoshida trying to control but Franca is working from the bottom.
Yoshida working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Yoshida sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Franca looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Franca working for submissions but it's allowed Yoshida to get to half guard.
Yoshida sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Let's hope that Yoshida has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Franca is looking for a sweep. Yoshida is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Yoshida looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Yoshida trying to control the action but Franca is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franca wants to get back to full guard.
Franca is working hard here to advance position.
Yoshida trying to control the pace.
Franca manages to get to full guard.
Yoshida is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Franca keeping moving, preventing Yoshida from controlling successfully.

Franca working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Yoshida doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Yoshida manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Yoshida is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Franca looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yoshida is one step ahead there.
Franca keeping moving, preventing Yoshida from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yoshida not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Franca tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lyoto Yoshida will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Luiz Franca's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Franca shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Yoshida is trying to defend but Franca finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Yoshida tries to get to full guard but Franca has control of the leg.
Yoshida trying to control from the bottom.
Franca throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Franca prevents Yoshida from improving his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Franca is working for an americana but Yoshida has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Franca was thinking about the submission.
Franca slips nicely into half guard.

Franca seems to be working for a kimura but Yoshida defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshida trying to control from the bottom.
Yoshida felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Franca seems to be looking for submissions.
Yoshida has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Franca is working away from the top position though.
Franca scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Yoshida makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Yoshida.
Franca preventing the sweep.

Franca postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Yoshida is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Franca, into his guard.

Yoshida avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Franca throws his legs up looking for a submission but Yoshida uses it to pass to side control.
Yoshida controls the position.
Franca is trying to improve his position.
Yoshida creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Franca is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franca being controlled for a moment.
Yoshida is looking to take a break and control but Franca is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Luiz Franca overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Franca tries to buck Yoshida off but Yoshida is having none of it.
Yoshida wants to control but Franca is keeping him busy.
Franca is looking for a sweep.
Yoshida wants to lay and pray for a moment but Franca keeps working.
Yoshida takes a little break here. Franca wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Franca is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Yoshida trying to control the action but Franca is working from the bottom.
Franca tries to improve position but can't.
Yoshida in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Yoshida trying to control the action but Franca is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Franca is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Luiz Franca will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Luiz Franca's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Yoshida lands the left hand.

Franca shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Franca was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Franca throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Franca working the ground and pound but Yoshida is defending the strikes.
Yoshida is looking for a sweep.
Yoshida manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Franca scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Yoshida is trying to get back to full guard.

Franca is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Yoshida sees it coming and defends easily.
Yoshida works his way to full guard. Good work.
Yoshida looking for a sweep. Not yet Yoshida, not yet.
Franca working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Yoshida looking for a sweep. Not yet Yoshida, not yet.
Yoshida avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshida looking for a sweep. Not yet Yoshida, not yet.
Yoshida avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Franca tries to free his leg and advance position but Yoshida is retaining full guard.
Franca throwing strikes but missing.

Yoshida has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Franca can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Yoshida 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.
Franca in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Franca postures up in Yoshida's guard and throws a big left but Yoshida blocks it.
Franca stopping the sweep attempt from Yoshida.
Yoshida is still trying to improve position.
Franca trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franca stopping the sweep attempt from Yoshida.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Franca accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Yoshida tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Yoshida preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Franca advances position into side control!

Franca tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Franca wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Yoshida, who protects the arm well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yoshida is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshida keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Yoshida wants to get back to full guard.

Franca is trying to work for a kimura but Yoshida is defending well.
Franca not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Franca is working for an americana but Yoshida has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Franca was thinking about the submission.
Yoshida 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.
Franca throws a big right hand that misses.
Yoshida looking to hit a scissor sweep but Franca is one step ahead there.
Franca tries to free his leg and advance position but Yoshida is retaining full guard.
Franca has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Franca throws a strike but Yoshida rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Yoshida got a little sloppy there for a moment and Franca has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Yoshida has managed to get both his arms back between Franca's legs - danger averted.
Yoshida is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Yoshida keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Franca's head.
Yoshida stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Franca swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Yoshida stopping the sweep attempt from Franca.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Yoshida avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Yoshida works over Franca with some ground and pound from guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luiz Franca showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Franca has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luiz Franca!
Luiz Franca was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.