PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Begbie Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zulu Chaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franco comes to the cage accompanied by Born Slippy. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Franco
vs
Chaka

185 cm
20
190 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

193 cm
24
200 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

:: Happy Pills ::

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Begbie Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Zulu Chaka!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Glass and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franco displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Chaka throws out the jab.
Chaka moves out of range of the leg kick from Franco.
Chaka tests Franco's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Chaka digs a good hook to Franco's body.
Chaka checks a leg kick.
Franco avoids the body shot from Chaka.
Chaka lands a nice shot that snaps Franco's head back.
Chaka throws out a powerful jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Chaka takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Chaka closes the distance and clinches up with Franco, looking for a takedown. Chaka pushes Franco against the cage but Franco circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Chaka throws a push kick but Franco slaps the foot to one side.
Franco on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Chaka has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Chaka moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Chaka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Franco pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Franco throws a leg kick but Chaka sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chaka works the jab nicely.
Franco misses with a low kick as Chaka jumps back.
Begbie Franco is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Franco throws a nice inside leg kick.
Franco tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Nice cross by Chaka.
Franco tried to score with a low kick but Chaka checks it.
Franco feints and then cracks Chaka's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Chaka down.
Chaka misses the jab.
Chaka lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A low kick from Franco misses
and Chaka connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Franco takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Chaka catches Franco with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Franco connects with a leg kick. Chaka looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Chaka changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Chaka dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Franco.
A head kick misses from Franco.
Good leg kick by Franco there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Chaka checks a leg kick.
Franco motions for Chaka to come forward. Franco throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Franco throws a head kick but Chaka moves out of range.
A low kick from Franco is predictable there
and Chaka counters with a nice body shot.
Franco tries a head kick but it misses.
Chaka moves away from the strike by Franco.
Franco 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.
Chaka paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Franco takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Chaka keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Franco misses with a leg kick
and Chaka cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chaka connects with a body shot.
Chaka keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Chaka lands with a straight right. Franco didn't see that one coming.
Chaka scores with a body shot.
Chaka avoids the head kick by Franco.
Chaka connects with the punch.
Nice straight punches there by Chaka. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Chaka.
Chaka throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Franco.

Chaka drives through with a takedown into guard.
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!
Chaka throwing strikes but missing.
Chaka has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Chaka drops back looking for a leg! Franco is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Franco manages to kick Chaka off! Chaka jumps back into Franco's guard.
Chaka looks gassed!
Chaka throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chaka engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Chaka throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Franco works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Franco bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Chaka's guard.

Chaka looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Chaka is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Chaka is trying to control the position but Franco postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zulu Chaka dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Chaka feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Franco's calf.
A jab from Chaka finds it's way through Franco's defenses.
Zulu Chaka seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Franco cracks the inside of Chaka's front leg.
Nice cross by Chaka.
Franco throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Chaka bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Franco's head.
Franco misses with a leg kick.
Chaka loads up on a big right hand but Franco slips the punch.
Chaka on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A chopping leg kick lands by Franco.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Franco throws a sloppy head kick and Chaka moves out of range easily.
Chaka scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Franco doesn't seem bothered though.
Franco lands with a nice combination. Chaka backs away looking to recover.
Chaka's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Chaka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Franco is looking to chop away at Chaka's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Chaka. That's going to slow Franco down.
Chaka misses with a wild combination.
Franco throws a head kick that misses.
Chaka throws a nice outside leg kick.
Franco throws a leg kick that is checked
letting Chaka counter with a right hand.
Chaka misses with a body kick.
Chaka looks to throw the jab but Franco is out of range.
Chaka just misses with a punch to the body.

Chaka gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The referee calls for Chaka to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

Chaka ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Chaka no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco tries to stand but Chaka is controlling from the bottom.

Chaka is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Franco defends well.
Franco knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Chaka on the ground.

Chaka is looking for a triangle but Franco pushes his legs off easily.
Franco passes Chaka's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Franco thows a huge punch but Chaka dodges it nicely.
Franco seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Franco is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Chaka looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Chaka looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Chaka is trying to maintain the position but Franco is very close to passing his half guard.

Chaka looking for submissions off his back.
Franco seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Chaka does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Franco is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Franco tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Chaka.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zulu Chaka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Chaka works Franco's body with a nice hook.
Chaka scores with a nice body kick.
Chaka tests Franco's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Franco needs to keep his hands up - Chaka had a free shot at his head there.
Franco lands with a hook. Chaka tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Chaka avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Franco tries to score with a low kick but Chaka moves his leg out of the way.
Chaka keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
A bone on bone clash there as Chaka blocks the leg kick.
Franco fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Chaka.
Franco throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like Zulu Chaka has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Franco moves out of range as Chaka strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco walks forward, straight into a front kick from Chaka.
Chaka avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Good work by Chaka as he checks the leg kick.
Chaka lands a nice hook to Franco's body. Franco takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Chaka throws a leg kick which misses Franco's front leg but catches the back leg as Franco tries to avoid it.
Chaka scores with a crisp jab that stopped Franco in his tracks.
Chaka throws a lazy right hand but Franco sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A low kick from Franco is predictable there
and Chaka counters with a two punch combo.
Chaka throws a hook but Franco avoids it easily.
Franco swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Franco throws a leg kick but Chaka sees it coming and moves out of range.
Franco misses with a leg kick.
Franco fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Chaka is out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Chaka. Franco does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco throws a leg kick that is checked
and Chaka counters with a low kick, right behind Franco 's knee.
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!
Franco has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Franco there as he acknowledges the shot.
Chaka scores with a hook to the body. Franco takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Franco with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Chaka to score with a decent uppercut.
Chaka with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Chaka fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Franco.

Franco gets tackled into the cage by Chaka. Chaka maintains the clinch.
Chaka lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Franco backwards.

Chaka successfully pulls guard.

Chaka is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Begbie Franco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Chaka isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Franco stacks Chaka on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Franco!
Chaka is looking to regain half guard here but Franco keeps moving and retains side control.
Franco tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Chaka is trying to get back to half guard.
Chaka struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chaka sneaks back into half guard.

Chaka looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Franco throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Zulu Chaka is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Chaka actively working from the bottom here.
Chaka is looking to control Franco's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Chaka avoid being mounted?

And that's the end of the fight!
Zulu Chaka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Chaka has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zulu Chaka!