PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mickey Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Kunda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kunda has chosen The Blacksmith as his entrance music. The key to victory for Mickey Franco has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Franco
vs
Kunda

168 cm
19
177 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

181 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mickey Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mario Kunda!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Anthony Taglia and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Franco scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kunda struggling a bit here.
Kunda sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franco looks to land a strike but Kunda avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Kunda is trying to keep Franco in close.
Franco might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kunda is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kunda is taking a breather. Franco says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Kunda is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Franco is just riding it out for now. Kunda eventually gives up the hold.
Kunda prevents Franco from improving his position.
Franco wants to get back to his feet.
Franco avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kunda.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kunda keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Franco is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Franco wants to get back to his feet.
Kunda frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kunda thowing shots but they're missing.
Kunda looking to control and managing it successfully.

Kunda goes for an armbar but Franco turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Franco.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Franco preventing the sweep.
Franco has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kunda keeps trying to improve his position.

Franco got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kunda has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Franco has managed to get both his arms back between Kunda's legs - danger averted.
Franco could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Kunda seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Franco postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kunda controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Kunda has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Kunda controls Franco momentarily but Franco frees himself.

Franco is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Kunda has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Franco is looking to defend but Kunda has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Franco! Kunda pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Franco taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:47 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Mario Kunda!
An out of breath Mario Kunda thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.