PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Paolo Franchesco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Crate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Chris Crate was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Franchesco
vs
Crate

170 cm
22
134 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

156 cm
22
138 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 1 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Paolo Franchesco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Chris Crate!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Donald Grub and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crate shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

It looks like Chris Crate has been cut.
Crate fails with an attempt to clinch.

Crate shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Franchesco is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Franchesco is working hard here to advance position.

Crate is looking for a kimura here.
Franchesco gets full guard.
Franchesco 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.

Franchesco working for a triangle but Crate defends it easily.
Crate is looking to advance position but Franchesco has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crate tries to reverse the position but Franchesco maintains control.
You get the feeling that Crate really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Franchesco throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Crate is trying to reverse the position but instead Franchesco has taken his back - oops!
Franchesco throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Crate wants to escape the position.
Franchesco punches the canvas rather than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Franchesco missing with strikes from the back.
Franchesco really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Crate.
Franchesco lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Franchesco is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Crate up.
Crate trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franchesco is trying to stick to Crate's back but Crate is turning into Franchesco. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Franchesco's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Crate.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Franchesco keeping moving, preventing Crate from controlling successfully.
Franchesco keeping full guard, as Crate tries to pass.
Crate seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Franchesco keeping full guard, as Crate tries to pass.
Crate trying to control but Franchesco is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Franchesco lands a jab to Crate's midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franchesco looks to land a combination but Crate avoids it well.
Crate tries to clinch up but Franchesco circles away and keeps his distance.
Crate shoots for a takedown but Franchesco saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Crate tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Franchesco swivels and escapes.
The fight stays on the outside here - Crate looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Franchesco scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Franchesco drops Crate with a nice combination! Franchesco dives into Crate's guard, looking to finish!

Crate is rocked!
Crate looks gassed!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Franchesco trying to control the position from guard on top but Crate is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Crate is still in real trouble! Can Franchesco finish him?

Franchesco drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Crate dives on top into guard.
Crate won't allow Franchesco to sweep him here.
Crate seems to have recovered his senses.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Franchesco has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Crate has passed into side control.

Crate swings around for an armbar but Franchesco sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Crate's guard.
Franchesco seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Crate not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Franchesco stands and steps away. Crate gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Crate moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Crate tries to clinch there but Franchesco circles away.
Franchesco lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Crate circles away quickly and effectively.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Franchesco misses with a two punch combination.
Crate tries to clinch up.
Franchesco uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Crate.
Franchesco misses with a series of wild punches.
Franchesco cracks a nice hook into Crate's ribs.
Franchesco throws a right and a left that both miss.
Franchesco cracks Crate with an open hand slap.
Franchesco misses with a wild body shot.
Crate is looking to clinch but Franchesco is avoiding it.
Franchesco throws a series of punches but Crate avoids them all with ease.
Franchesco is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
A combination from Franchesco does no damage.
Franchesco keeps the fight on the outside.

Crate shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Crate is pushing down on Franchesco's leg trying to pass to half guard. Franchesco is fighting to maintain full guard but Crate has managed to sneak the leg through.
Crate thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Crate is nestled in close to Franchesco, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Crate looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Franchesco with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Franchesco moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Crate trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Franchesco looking for a sweep. Not yet Franchesco, not yet.
Crate postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Franchesco is looking to sweep but instead, Crate has passed into half guard.
Crate wants to lay and pray for a moment but Franchesco keeps working.
The fighters are battling for position here. Franchesco manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Crate stopping the sweep attempt from Franchesco.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franchesco keeping moving, preventing Crate from controlling successfully.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Crate wants to pass the guard but Franchesco is keeping the position.
Franchesco is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Crate trying to control but Franchesco is working from the bottom.
Franchesco is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Crate is controlling him.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Crate fails in his attempt to clinch.

Crate shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Crate was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Franchesco tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Crate looking for a guillotine from mount but Franchesco is having none of it.
Franchesco avoids a series of strikes thrown by Crate.
Crate trying to control but Franchesco is having none of it.
Crate lands with some strikes.
Franchesco keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Crate trying to control but Franchesco is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paolo Franchesco showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Franchesco 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 1 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight for Paolo Franchesco!
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight for Paolo Franchesco!
Judge James Glass scores the fight for Paolo Franchesco!

Paolo Franchesco wins by unanimous decision!