PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Soto (ranked 1117 p4p, 1726 weight class) and Frank French (ranked 64 p4p, 102 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Soto
vs
French

160 cm
25
138
4 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
142
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Fighters Connection

Island Boys Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rafael Soto!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Frank French!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Michael Johnstone and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Soto looks to clinch
and French connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Soto seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Soto is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Soto closes the distance looking to clinch
and French counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Soto is looking to clinch but French is avoiding it.
French looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Soto tries to clinch up but French circles away and keeps his distance.
French throws a lazy right hand but Soto sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
French throws the left hand but Soto avoids the punch easily.
Soto on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Soto wants to clinch
and French counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soto tries to clinch but French is having none of it.

French tries to keep at a distance but Soto has taken the fight into the clinch.

French breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
French has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Soto tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but French paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Decent striking displayed by French there.
French avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Soto wants to clinch up but French keeps it at a distance.
Soto tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but French paws at him with a jab and circles away.
French looks to land a right hand but Soto moved out of range.
Soto is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
French scores with a jab to the body.

Soto forces French back against the cage and clinches.

Soto drags the fight down to the ground.

French got a little sloppy there for a moment and Soto has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, French has managed to get both his arms back between Soto's legs - danger averted.
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!

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

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

French is posturing up here but Soto has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! French tries to roll out but it's too tight and French has to tap! Slick submission there by Soto!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Rafael Soto!
Rafael Soto retains his bantamweight title!
After winning the bout, Rafael Soto thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.