PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Melvin Manhoef (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Begbie Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manhoef comes into the arena with The Prodigy - Take Me To The Hospital blaring out of the sound system. Franco has chosen Born Slippy as his entrance music. Melvin Manhoef has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Manhoef
vs
Franco

184 cm
33
182 lbs
24 - 12 - 0

185 cm
30
190 lbs
20 - 11 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Divinity 160Q for $20 LASTDAYSALE
ODIUM

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 24 - 12 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Melvin Manhoef!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Begbie Franco!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Fujiwara and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manhoef lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Franco throws a head kick but Manhoef moves out of range.
Manhoef pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Manhoef looks for the body kick but Franco saw that one coming.
Manhoef cracks the inside of Franco's front leg.
Franco misses with a two punch combination.
Franco thows a leg kick but Manhoef checks it
and Manhoef counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Manhoef throws a jab but it's blocked by Franco.
A left lands for Manhoef.
Franco throws a low kick but it's checked well by Manhoef.
Manhoef tries a low kick but Franco avoids it.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Manhoef. Franco shrugs it off though.
Franco moves out of range as Manhoef throws a body kick.
Manhoef is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Franco.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco throws a low kick but it's checked well by Manhoef.
Franco misses with a low kick.
A low kick from Franco misses
and Manhoef counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Franco swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Franco is looking to chop away at Manhoef's legs.
Manhoef moves out of range of the strikes.
Manhoef steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Franco.
Manhoef ducks under a wild hook from Franco.
Franco throws a leg kick but Manhoef sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Franco throws a series of punches but Manhoef moves out of range.
Manhoef throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Franco throws a front kick aimed at Manhoef's knee but Manhoef avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco blocks a head kick by Manhoef.
Franco throws a low kick but it's checked well by Manhoef.
Manhoef fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Franco has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Manhoef lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Manhoef looks to score with a jab to the body but Franco is just out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Manhoef.
A decent looking cross lands there for Manhoef.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Manhoef tries to clinch but Franco moves out of range.
Franco moves out of range of the body kick from Manhoef.
Franco misses with a series of wild punches.
Manhoef checks a leg kick nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Franco's head.
Manhoef throws a head kick but Franco moves out of range.
Manhoef misses with a body shot
and Franco counters with a low kick, right behind Manhoef 's knee.
Manhoef uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Franco.
Manhoef throws a body punch but Franco moves out of range.
Manhoef swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Manhoef misses with a head kick.
That kick from Franco tenderised Manhoef's leg. Manhoef is trying to keep his angry face on.
Franco dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Manhoef. That did some damage!
A punch combination from Manhoef misses.
Manhoef jabs Franco right on the nose. Franco blinks but takes it well.
Manhoef scores with a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Manhoef is looking to land body kicks.
Franco 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.
Franco takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Manhoef swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Manhoef throws a quick inside leg kick.
Nice uppercut lands for Manhoef. That snapped Franco's head back.
Manhoef is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Nice jab there from Manhoef.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Franco tries to land a body kick
and Manhoef counters with a right hand to the body.
Franco takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Franco ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Melvin Manhoef dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Franco throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Manhoef lands a nice looking body kick.
Manhoef 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.
Manhoef scores with a hook to the body. Franco takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Manhoef throws a nice outside leg kick.
Franco gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Manhoef.
Franco connects with a right hand. Manhoef shakes it off.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Manhoef shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Franco takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Manhoef fakes the leg kick and cracks Franco in the body.
Franco throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Manhoef lands with a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Franco takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Franco gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Manhoef is looking to slow Franco down with leg kicks.
Manhoef wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Manhoef checks the leg kick.
Franco has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Manhoef.
Franco with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Manhoef throws a head kick that misses.
Franco misses with the body kick
and Manhoef counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Manhoef scores with a nice head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Some bone on bone action there as Franco checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Manhoef keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Franco crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Manhoef - the referee stops the clock and Franco gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Manhoef. Franco manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Manhoef ducks under a wild hook from Franco.
Franco throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Manhoef keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Franco is looking to score with low kicks.
Manhoef throws a head kick that misses.
Franco takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Franco tries to move into range but Manhoef moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Franco is rocked!
Manhoef chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Franco can pounce on him.
Franco is still on wobbly legs! Can Manhoef finish him?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Manhoef. That snapped Franco's head back.
Nice body kick from Manhoef.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Franco checks a leg kick.
Franco seems to have recovered his senses.
Manhoef looks to score with a jab to the body but Franco is just out of range.
Franco on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Manhoef connects with a jab.
An inside leg kick lands from Manhoef.
Franco scores with a sloppy right hand. Manhoef should have avoided that one.
Manhoef takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Franco steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Manhoef. That one must have hurt.
Manhoef throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Franco is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Franco avoids a kick to the body.
Manhoef looks for the body kick but Franco saw that one coming.
Franco moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Manhoef tries to clinch but Franco is having none of it.
Manhoef is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Franco can do to turn this around?
A nice inside leg kick there by Manhoef. That's going to slow Franco down.
Manhoef connects with a solid leg kick.
Franco 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.
Franco's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A good leg kick by Manhoef.
Franco takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Manhoef throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Franco stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Melvin Manhoef dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Manhoef tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Franco was well out of range. Poor timing from Manhoef.
Melvin Manhoef seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Franco throws a quick inside leg kick.
A lazy body kick from Manhoef
and Franco counters with an inside leg kick.
Franco lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Franco blocks a jab.
Franco uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Manhoef.
Nice straight punches there by Manhoef. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Manhoef.
Franco moves out of range of the leg kick from Manhoef.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Franco might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Manhoef has got the better of the exchanges.
Manhoef throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Manhoef fakes the leg kick and cracks Franco in the body.
Manhoef lands with a kick to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Manhoef.
Franco fails in his attempt to clinch.
Franco moves out of range as Manhoef strikes.
Melvin Manhoef is winning the standup battle so far.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Franco checks a leg kick.
Manhoef lands a head shot.
Manhoef moves out of range of the body kick from Franco.
Franco is looking to slow Manhoef down with leg kicks.
Franco tries to close the distance and clinch but Manhoef swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nice body kick from Manhoef.
Manhoef checks a leg kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Manhoef.
Franco takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Franco lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Manhoef digs a good body shot into Franco's ribs.
Manhoef lands with a nice body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A solid leg kick lands there for Manhoef.
Manhoef throws a predictable looking body shot
and Franco counters with a thumping low kick.
Manhoef lands a leg kick that knocks Franco off balance momentarily.
Good exchange - Manhoef coming out on top.
Manhoef scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Franco keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Franco feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Manhoef's calf.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef fails with an attempt to clinch.
Franco stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Manhoef.
Manhoef lands a right hook to the body.
Franco slips a jab from Manhoef.
Franco walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Begbie Franco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Manhoef lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Manhoef fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Manhoef explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Franco missing with a left hand there. Manhoef was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A good leg kick by Franco.
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 wants to slow Manhoef down by chopping away at his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef throws a hook but Franco avoids it easily.
Manhoef thows a body kick. Franco tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Franco has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Manhoef ducks under a wild hook from Franco.
Manhoef avoids a kick to the body.
Manhoef lands a nice leg kick that just misses Franco's sensitive parts.
Franco walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Franco throws a leg kick but Manhoef checks it.
Good work by Franco as he checks the leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Franco throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Manhoef stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Franco tries to land a leg kick but Manhoef saw it coming and moves away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Melvin Manhoef showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Manhoef has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Melvin Manhoef!
Melvin Manhoef spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.