PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andy Wilkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Begbie Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franco has chosen Born Slippy as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Wilkins
vs
Franco

185 cm
33
195 lbs
20 - 8 - 0

185 cm
30
190 lbs
20 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Sex Panther! (160q recovery $149)

Meet the Future

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 20 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Andy Wilkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Begbie Franco!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, James Glass and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franco tests Wilkins's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Franco missing with a left hand there. Wilkins was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nice defenses there by Franco.
Wilkins lands a slapping body shot.
Wilkins lands a jab-cross combination.
Wilkins takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Horrible takedown by Wilkins or perhaps it was just good defense by Franco which made him look bad.
Franco takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Franco has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Franco keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A head kick misses from Franco.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilkins tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Franco was well out of range. Poor timing from Wilkins.
Wilkins throws a hook but Franco blocks it.
Wilkins throws a hook but Franco blocks it.
Wilkins scores with a body shot.
Wilkins fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Wilkins has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Laoch Den in the buildup to the fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andy Wilkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Wilkins. Franco does a little dance to reset his feet.
Wilkins ducks under a wild hook from Franco.
Franco pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Franco wants to land a leg kick but Wilkins is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Wilkins misses with a body shot.
Wilkins misses the jab.
No luck for Wilkins with that takedown attempt.
Franco takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Wilkins throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Franco misses with a looping right.
Wilkins throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Franco's waist but Franco gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Wilkins off to one side.
Wilkins looks to score with a jab to the body but Franco is just out of range.
Wilkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilkins looks to throw the jab but Franco is out of range.
Franco throws a leg kick that is checked

and Wilkins counters with a shoot takedown. Franco fights it but they end up in guard.
Franco looking for a sweep. Not yet Franco, not yet.
Wilkins throws an elbow that misses. Franco uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Wilkins's guard. Nice move by Franco!
Franco must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

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

Wilkins has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Franco is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Wilkins.

Franco decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilkins throws a big shot that misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wilkins lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A jab from Wilkins misses.
Begbie Franco is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wilkins connects with a single shot there.
Wilkins has a takedown stuffed.
Franco misses with a leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Wilkins closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Franco did well to prevent Wilkins getting side control.
Franco avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Wilkins.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Wilkins dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Wilkins throws a jab when Franco was well out of range.
Wilkins avoids the head kick by Franco.
Franco avoids the body shot from Wilkins.
Wilkins lands a nice hook to Franco's body. Franco takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Franco steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Wilkins.
Andy Wilkins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Franco throws a leg kick

and Wilkins counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Wilkins misses with a head shot. Franco uses the momentum to regain guard.
Wilkins in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Wilkins is looking to work some ground and pound but Franco has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilkins throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Wilkins looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Wilkins being controlled here momentarily.
Franco keeping moving, preventing Wilkins from controlling successfully.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Wilkins's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Wilkins slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco keeping full guard, as Wilkins tries to pass.
Franco is adopting a defensive guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Franco connects with a solid leg kick.
Wilkins misses with a takedown attempt - Franco sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Franco dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Wilkins. That did some damage!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco misses with a straight left.
Wilkins digs a good hook to Franco's body.
Wilkins works Franco's body with a nice hook.
Wilkins misses with a straight right.
Wilkins on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Franco. Franco obviously looking to wear him down.
Franco defending well as Wilkins loads up on a big left hand.
Franco with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Wilkins blocks a low kick nicely.
Franco waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Wilkins.

Wilkins closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Franco's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Wilkins is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Wilkins postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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 is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Wilkins looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Franco stands up and beckons Wilkins to join him on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Wilkins dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Wilkins throws a hook but Franco blocks it.
Wilkins connects with a jab.
Wilkins shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Franco but Franco pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Wilkins throws a body punch but Franco moves out of range.
Wilkins connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Nice sprawl there from Franco as Wilkins shoots in.
Franco misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wilkins tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Franco was well out of range. Poor timing from Wilkins.
Franco pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco pivots, looking for a leg kick but Wilkins is out of range and Franco settles back down.
Wilkins feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Francos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Franco avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Wilkins throws a jab but it's blocked by Franco.

Franco moves into the clinch.

Franco breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wilkins throws a right hand that Franco ducks under and follows up with a left that Franco also avoids with ease.
Wilkins stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Franco.
Wilkins stuns Franco with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Wilkins shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Franco pinned against the cage. Franco gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andy Wilkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Franco thows a leg kick but Wilkins checks it

and Wilkins counters with a single leg into guard. Franco didn't expect that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wilkins wants to control from the top but Franco keeps moving.
Wilkins looking to sit in guard and control but Franco gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Wilkins is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Franco defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilkins has a closed guard, preventing Franco from standing up.

Franco gets to his feet - Wilkins follows without any prompting.
Begbie Franco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Franco defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Wilkins.
Franco lands with a thumping leg kick.
Wilkins shoots in for a takedown but Franco shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Wilkins scores with a hook to the body. Franco takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Wilkins jabs at Franco's body.
Andy Wilkins is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilkins connects with a body shot that sends Franco's belly button to the back.
Wilkins shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Franco pinned against the cage. Franco gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Wilkins checks a leg kick.
Franco shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Wilkins throws a big shot that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wilkins misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Wilkins takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wilkins throws a right hand that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Franco throws a solid leg kick but Wilkins takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Franco.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Andy Wilkins.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Wilkins, 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andy Wilkins!
After winning the bout, Andy Wilkins thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.