PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lance Domingo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Begbie Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Domingo's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Smoke Serpent "Jui-Jitsu". Franco has chosen Born Slippy as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Lance Domingo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Domingo
vs
Franco

176 cm
37
193 lbs
17 - 9 - 0

185 cm
33
190 lbs
23 - 14 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lance Domingo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Begbie Franco!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Domingo on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Franco moves into range and clinches up with Domingo.
Franco lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Domingo or not.
Domingo has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

Franco pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Domingo throws a nice head kick!
Domingo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Domingo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Franco looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Domingo throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Domingo with a jab.
Franco throws a leg kick but Domingo sees it coming and moves out of range.
Domingo misses with a body kick.
Domingo circles away from the clinch attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Domingo pushes Franco up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Domingo misses with an elbow strike.

Domingo is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Franco can't fight it off and eventually Domingo manages to take the fight to the floor. Franco looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Domingo wants to control from the top but Franco keeps moving.
Franco told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Domingo cracks Franco with a solid left hand.
Domingo throws a strike but Franco rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Domingo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Franco gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Domingo is looking for a triangle but Franco pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Domingo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Franco can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Domingo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Franco doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Franco manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Franco wants to stand but Domingo is controlling his posture from full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco stopping the sweep attempt from Domingo.

Domingo is looking for a triangle but Franco pushes his legs off easily.
Franco would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Domingo wants to sweep here but Franco controlling him for the moment.
Franco wants to stand but Domingo is controlling his posture from full guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Domingo wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Domingo swings for the body but Franco moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Franco throws a nice inside leg kick.
Domingo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Franco tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Franco dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Franco feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Domingo's calf.

Domingo is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Franco's half guard.
Franco moves into full guard.
Domingo wants to pass the guard but Franco is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lance Domingo dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Domingo throws a sloppy head kick
letting Franco counter with a right hand.
Domingo looks to land a body kick but Franco moved away.
Domingo takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Domingo misses with a straight left.
Franco pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Franco dips to his left and cracks Domingo with an uppercut!
Domingo takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Franco moves in looking to clinch but Domingo pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Domingo takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Nice takedown defense from Franco. No joy for Domingo on that attempt.
Domingo misses with a low kick.
Domingo takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Domingo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Franco buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Domingo walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Franco chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Domingo walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Franco checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Domingo walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Franco checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Domingo.
Domingo lands a jab-cross combination.
Franco takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Domingo is looking to land body kicks.
Good leg kick by Franco there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Franco scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Domingo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Franco counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Franco darts in and clinches Domingo up against the cage.
Franco misses with a short punch on the inside.
Franco tries to work over Domingo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Franco lands a left hand.
Franco throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Franco's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Franco throws a nice looking combination but Domingo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Begbie Franco seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Franco throws a sloppy head kick and Domingo moves out of range easily.
Domingo gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Franco throws a sloppy head kick and Domingo moves out of range easily.
Franco takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Franco.
Franco blocks a head kick by Domingo.

Franco closes the distance and clinches.
A hook to the body from Franco.
Domingo throws a head punch that misses.
Domingo misses with a knee to the head.
Franco scores with a shot to the side of Domingo's head.
Franco pushes Domingo back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Franco has Domingo pressed against the cage.
Franco can't find room to land a body shot as Domingo controls the action.
A head punch on the inside from Domingo fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Domingo blocking some punches.
Domingo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Franco scores with a hook to the body.
Franco lands a nice shot to the body.
Franco struggles to land a body shot inside as Domingo controls his hands.
Franco tries to work over Domingo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short left from Franco.
Franco tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Franco doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Domingo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
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 a couple of punches blocked by Domingo.
Franco lands with a light punch inside.
Domingo can't find room to land a body shot as Franco controls the action.
Domingo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Begbie Franco showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Domingo throws an overhand right that lands on Franco's shoulder, as Franco tries to avoid the shot.
Franco misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Domingo throws out a leg kick but Franco moves out of range and Domingo only half commits.
Good shot there by Franco.
Sloppy strikes from Domingo. Those never looked like landing.
Domingo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Franco.
Domingo connects with a body shot.
Domingo throws a body punch but Franco moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franco looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Domingo shoots in looking for a takedown but Franco manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Domingo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Franco lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Franco lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Domingo is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Domingo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Domingo misses with a low kick as Franco jumps back.
Franco throws a leg kick which misses Domingo's front leg but catches the back leg as Domingo tries to avoid it.
Franco throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Franco has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Domingo feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Franco's calf.
Begbie Franco is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Domingo throws a body kick that misses.
Domingo throws a low kick but Franco avoids it.
Domingo throws a poor cross that misses
and Domingo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Domingo throws a big shot that misses.

Franco moves into the clinch.
Domingo misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco avoids the elbow strike from Domingo, against the cage.

Franco breaks from the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Franco. No joy for Domingo on that attempt.
Franco lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Franco scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Franco fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Domingo.
Franco lands a leg kick that knocks Domingo off balance momentarily.
Franco throws a leg kick but Domingo checks it.
Domingo lands a head kick. Franco smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Franco chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Franco turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Domingo dives in and grabs Franco's left leg, looking for a takedown. Franco pushes down on Domingo's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lance Domingo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Domingo walks into a left hand.
Domingo throws a body kick that misses.
Franco has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Domingo doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Domingo misses with a wild body shot.
Domingo throws a leg kick but Franco checks it.
Franco ducks under a wild hook from Domingo.
A chopping leg kick lands by Franco.
Domingo tests Franco's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Franco checks the leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Domingo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Franco.
Domingo closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Domingo misses with a body shot.
Domingo swats away the attempt to clinch by Franco.
Domingo throws a jab when Franco was well out of range.
Franco connects with the punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Franco pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Franco misses with a hook. Domingo ducked under it nicely.
Domingo fails to land with a series of punches.
Domingo displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Begbie Franco comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Franco has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Begbie Franco!
Our winner, Begbie Franco, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.