PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Charlie Runkle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frankie Provenzano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Runkle comes to the cage accompanied by Californication theme . Provenzano has chosen America F*%K yeah! as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Frankie Provenzano has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Runkle
vs
Provenzano

177 cm
27
147 lbs
20 - 11 - 1

172 cm
28
144 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 11 - 1, fighting out of New York, Charlie Runkle !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Frankie Provenzano!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Chad Campbell and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Provenzano throws a right and a left that Runkle avoids nicely.
Provenzano connects with a body shot that sends Runkle 's belly button to the back.
Frankie Provenzano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Provenzano shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Runkle pinned against the cage. Runkle gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Provenzano shoots in looking for a takedown. Runkle tries to sprawl out of it but Provenzano keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Runkle manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Provenzano misses with the combination.
Runkle throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Provenzano stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Provenzano cracks a nice hook into Runkle 's ribs.

Provenzano moves into range and clinches up with Runkle .
Runkle misses with a body punch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Runkle obliges.
Runkle gets underhooks to prevent Provenzano's takedown attempt.
Charlie Runkle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frankie Provenzano.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Runkle tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Runkle tries to land a knee to the head but Provenzano blocks with his arms.
Runkle misses with a knee to the head.
Runkle lands a knee to the body.
Provenzano is trying to break the clinch but Runkle is controlling him.
A short left from Runkle .
Runkle tries a body shot but Provenzano blocks it.
Runkle lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Runkle landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Runkle lands a knee to the body.
Runkle lands an elbow just above Provenzano 's eye.

It looks like Frankie Provenzano has been cut.
Runkle is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Runkle utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Runkle makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Runkle content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Runkle connects with a nasty looking knee right to Provenzano's face.
Provenzano is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Runkle .
Runkle goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Runkle lands an elbow inside that Provenzano shrugs off.
Provenzano taking a breather.
Runkle lands a knee to the head.
Runkle pushes Provenzano back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Provenzano takes an elbow to the temple.
Runkle struggles to land a body shot inside as Provenzano controls his hands.
Provenzano tries to break the clinch but Runkle is controlling the position.
Runkle tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Runkle throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Provenzano blocks it with crossed arms.
A right hook to the body lands for Runkle .
Provenzano prevents a body shot from Runkle .
Runkle lands a body shot in the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Runkle .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Runkle misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nice body punch from Runkle - that landed with a thud.
Provenzano tries to break free but Runkle pushes him back against the cage.
Runkle works on Provenzano's body with a couple of short punches.
Provenzano avoids a wild elbow strike from Runkle .
Provenzano working hard to break the clinch.
A short right from Runkle .
Runkle misses with a hook to the ribs.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Runkle .
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Runkle tries a body shot but Provenzano blocks it.
Runkle tries to work over Provenzano's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Runkle landing knees to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charlie Runkle dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Frankie Provenzano's cut.
That's time! Runkle 's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Runkle lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Provenzano throws a jab when Runkle was well out of range.
Provenzano thows a body shot but no joy.
Provenzano dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Runkle .
Runkle misses with a two punch combination.
Nice defenses there by Runkle .
Provenzano misses with a few strikes there.
Provenzano tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Runkle counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Provenzano throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Provenzano scores with a jab to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Provenzano looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Runkle turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Provenzano throws a leg kick
and Runkle counters with a low kick, right behind Provenzano 's knee.
Provenzano looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nice takedown defense from Runkle . No joy for Provenzano on that attempt.
Provenzano misses with a looping right.
Runkle thows a body shot but no joy.
Runkle lands a jab to the head.
A cross from Provenzano lands.
Runkle slips a jab from Provenzano.
Provenzano shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Runkle sprawls well. Runkle wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Provenzano gets slowly back to his feet.
Charlie Runkle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frankie Provenzano.
Runkle fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Provenzano has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Runkle darts in and clinches Provenzano up against the cage.
Runkle lands with a left to the head.
A right hand to the body from Runkle .
Runkle is pushing Provenzano up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Runkle .
Runkle tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Runkle works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Runkle tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Provenzano tries to break the clinch but Runkle is controlling the position.
Runkle doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Provenzano is looking to break free of the clinch but Runkle has double underhooks.
Runkle misses with a punch to the body.
Runkle misses with the head strike.
Charlie Runkle has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Runkle crunches a lovely knee into Provenzano's ribcage.
Runkle struggles to land a body shot inside as Provenzano controls his hands.
Runkle is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A short left from Runkle .
Runkle is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Provenzano is defending well for now.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Provenzano.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Runkle creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Provenzano blocking some punches.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Runkle looking to throw knees to the head but Provenzano is blocking nicely.
Provenzano prevents a body shot from Runkle .
Provenzano managing to block the knees to the body from Runkle .
Runkle lands an elbow that stopped Provenzano in his tracks for a moment.
Runkle looking to throw knees to the head but Provenzano is blocking nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Runkle connects with a knee to the head.
Runkle doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Runkle tries a body shot but Provenzano blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charlie Runkle dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Frankie Provenzano's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Provenzano.
Runkle swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Provenzano has managed to clinch.

Provenzano breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Runkle misses with a double jab.
Runkle fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Provenzano looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Runkle fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Provenzano chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Runkle can pounce on him.
Runkle feints and then cracks Provenzano's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Provenzano down.
Provenzano scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Runkle tries to clinch but Provenzano is having none of it.

Provenzano gets the takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Runkle throws Provenzano to one side and escapes!
Provenzano pivots, looking for a leg kick but Runkle is out of range and Provenzano settles back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Provenzano rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Runkle moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Provenzano tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Runkle was well out of range. Poor timing from Provenzano.
Provenzano throws a leg kick
and Runkle counters with a leg kick.
Provenzano is trying hard to land a takedown here. Runkle sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Provenzano takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Provenzano misses with a left hand
and Runkle counters with a slapping leg kick.
Provenzano swings widly with a right hand
and Runkle counters with a left to the body.
Runkle slips a straight right by Provenzano.
Runkle is looking to wear down Provenzano with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Runkle scores with a jab. Provenzano acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Runkle uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Provenzano.
Provenzano misses with a left hand
and Runkle connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Runkle lands a jab to the nose.
No luck for Provenzano with that takedown attempt.

Runkle has taken the fight to the clinch.
Charlie Runkle is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Runkle tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Runkle fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
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!
Runkle lands a right hand that snaps the head of Provenzano backwards.
Provenzano avoiding damage as Runkle throws knees to the body.
Runkle misses with a punch on the inside.
Runkle lands a nice knee to the body.
Provenzano blocks a body shot from Runkle .
Provenzano tries to pull guard but Runkle forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Charlie Runkle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frankie Provenzano.
Runkle effectively controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Provenzano wants to break the clinch but can't.
Runkle lands a nice uppercut.

Provenzano breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Runkle looks to score with a jab to the body but Provenzano is just out of range.
Charlie Runkle is winning the standup battle so far.
Runkle fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Provenzano has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Provenzano misses with a hook to the body
and Runkle counters with a leg kick.

Provenzano has Runkle up against the cage in a clinch.
Provenzano on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Runkle unloads a knee to the mid-section.
With the fighters up against the cage, Runkle throws an elbow but misses.
Nice elbow from Runkle .

That has opened up Frankie Provenzano's cut even more.
Runkle taking a breather.
Provenzano prevents a body shot from Runkle .
Frankie Provenzano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Provenzano prevents a body shot from Runkle .
Runkle creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Provenzano's defenses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Charlie Runkle showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Runkle , winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Charlie Runkle !
Charlie Runkle really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Vandal Fight Boutique (prices $8 - $30) logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.