PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Begbie Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Linkin Portier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franco kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Born Slippy. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Franco
vs
Portier

185 cm
36
190 lbs
29 - 16 - 1

185 cm
33
186 lbs
23 - 14 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

SP Ultimate Nutrition

Mohito Fightwear

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 29 - 16 - 1, fighting out of London, Begbie Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 14 - 2, fighting out of New York, Linkin Portier!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Portier misses with a straight left.
Franco throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Portier ducks under a wild hook from Franco.
Portier throws out a counter right but Franco avoids it with no problem.
Linkin Portier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Franco moves into the clinch.
Franco blocks a body shot from Portier.
Portier misses with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Portier fails to land.
Portier stalling.
Portier misses with a punch to the body.
Portier swings wildly with an uppercut but Franco uses good head movement to avoid it.
Franco swings wildly with an uppercut but Portier uses good head movement to avoid it.
Portier fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franco tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Portier's elbow.
Nice body punch from Portier - that landed with a thud.
Franco blocking some punches.
Franco wants to break the clinch but can't.
Portier misses with a short punch on the inside.
Portier swings wildly with an uppercut but Franco uses good head movement to avoid it.
Franco blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Portier misses with the head strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Portier.
Portier misses with a short punch on the inside.
Portier lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Franco backwards.
Portier tries to work over Franco's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Portier content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Franco blocking some punches.
Franco lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Portier lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Portier fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Portier creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Franco pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Franco takes one to the side of the head.
Franco misses with a wild body shot.
Portier tries to close the distance and clinch but Franco swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Franco misses with a series of wild punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Portier keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Portier looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Portier fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Franco is looking to clinch.
Portier lands an overhand right.
Franco throws out a leg kick but Portier moves out of range and Franco only half commits.
A telegraphed right hand from Portier misses the target.
Portier moves in looking to clinch but Franco pushes him off.
Franco pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Portier moves in looking to clinch but Franco pushes him off.
Portier tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Portier blocks a head kick by Franco.
Portier wants to counter the offense by Franco and move into the clinch position.
Decent striking displayed by Franco there.
The fight stays on the outside here - Portier looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Portier scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Franco doesn't seem bothered though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Portier throws a solid leg kick but Franco takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Portier.
A little feinted left hand from Franco on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Franco lands with a cross.
Good standup being displayed there by Portier as he connects with a hook.
Franco throws out a leg kick but Portier moves out of range and Franco only half commits.
Portier flicks out a counter leg kick but Franco steps away.
Portier tries to close the distance and clinch but Franco swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Portier tries to clinch but Franco is having none of it.
Portier wants to clinch up but Franco keeps it at a distance.
A low kick from Franco misses
and Portier connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A punch lands to the side of Franco 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Franco lands a jab.
Portier tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Portier throws a leg kick
and Franco counters with a leg kick.

Portier rushes Franco and presses him up against the cage.
Portier scores with a hook to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Franco is working Portier over against the cage.
Portier tries to throw a body punch but Franco avoids it by throwing Portier back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Portier.
Portier misses with a punch on the inside.

Franco manages to break the clinch.
Portier changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Franco thumps Portier with a low kick.
Portier tries to clinch up but Franco circles away and keeps his distance.
A swing and a miss from Franco.
Portier tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Portier fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Portier throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Franco is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Portier.
Franco avoids the body shot from Portier.
Portier throws a right and a left that both miss.

Portier closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Franco escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Portier is looking to clinch but Franco is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Linkin Portier dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Franco misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Franco circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Portier looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Begbie Franco is winning the standup battle so far.

Portier closes the distance and pushes Franco back into the cage.
Franco lands a right hand that snaps the head of Portier backwards.
Franco blocking some punches.
Portier fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Franco blocking some punches.
A right hand to the body from Portier.
Portier misses with a punch to the body.
Portier lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Franco backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Portier misses with the head strike.
A frustrated look appears on Franco's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Franco tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Portier's elbow.
Portier pushes Franco back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Portier scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Portier working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Portier lands with a right to the head.
Portier stalling in the clinch but Franco improves position.
Linkin Portier seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Portier misses with a punch on the inside.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Portier displaying some good clinch control by pressing Franco up against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Franco as the two fighters clinch.
Portier trying to control the position but instead, Franco has worked for underhooks and has pushed Portier into the cage.
Portier blocks a body shot from Franco.
Portier misses with a hook from the clinch.
Franco blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Portier scores with a shot to the side of Franco's head.
Portier tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Portier.
Portier pushes Franco back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Portier fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Portier scores with a nice hook to the head.
Portier swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Portier tries to throw a body punch but Franco avoids it by throwing Portier back against the cage.
Portier throws a head punch that misses.
Franco tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Franco blocks an uppercut.
A right hand to the body from Franco.
Franco misses with a punch to the body.
Portier lands a left hand that snaps the head of Franco backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Portier throws a punch but it's blocked by Franco.

Franco breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Franco lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Franco jabs at Portier's body.
Franco looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Franco throws a head kick but Portier moves out of range.
Franco connects with the punch.
Portier cracks Franco with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Portier fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Franco has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Portier finds it's way round the side to connect with Franco's head.

Franco is rocked!
Franco thows a left - swing and a miss!
Oh Franco is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Franco bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Portier's head.
Franco seems to have got his legs back now.
Portier throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Franco throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Portier's head.
Portier defending well as Franco loads up on a big left hand.
Portier looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Portier cracks Franco with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Portier stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Portier tries to close the distance and clinch but Franco swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Franco doesn't manage to clinch there - Portier circles away.
Franco throws a lazy right hand but Portier sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Portier tries to counter by closing the distance.
Portier tries to close the distance and clinch up but Franco swats him away and circles back towards the center.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Portier wants to clinch up but Franco keeps it at a distance.
Portier changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Portier fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Franco looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Portier scores with a jab to the body.
Portier misses with a hook. Franco ducked under it nicely.
Portier is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Portier lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Portier wants to clinch up but Franco keeps it at a distance.
Portier throws a leg kick that is checked
and Franco counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Portier takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Portier is looking to slow Franco down with leg kicks.
Franco cracks Portier with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Franco tries to score with a low kick but Portier moves his leg out of the way.
Nice uppercut lands for Portier. That snapped Franco's head back.
Linkin Portier is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Franco fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Portier manages to avoid it.
Portier throws out a counter right but Franco avoids it with no problem.
Portier motions for Franco to come forward. Portier throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Portier takes the fight into the clinch.
A short uppercut from Portier.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Linkin Portier showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Portier takes one to the side of the head.
Portier checks a leg kick.
Franco misses the jab.
It looks like Franco has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Portier fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Franco manages to avoid it.

Portier closes the distance and pushes Franco back into the cage.
Portier keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Franco's efforts to push away.
Franco blocking some punches.
Portier stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Portier creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Franco tries to throw a body punch but Portier avoids it by throwing Franco back against the cage.
Portier looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Portier working some nice short punches in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Portier.

Franco breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Franco throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Franco misses the shot to the body.
Portier lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco misses with a hook to the body
and Portier makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Portier pushes Franco up against the cage in a clinch.
Portier tries to work over Franco's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Portier misses with a short punch on the inside.
Franco takes a shot to the head.
Portier softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Franco.
Portier lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Franco backwards.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Portier.
Portier lands a left hand.
Franco lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Portier blocks a body shot from Franco.
Portier lands with a light punch 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!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Franco.
Portier throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Nice body punch from Portier.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Portier tries to throw a body punch but Franco avoids it by throwing Portier back against the cage.
Portier lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Portier throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Francos head.
A hook to the body from Portier.
Portier struggles to land a body shot inside as Franco controls his hands.
Portier has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Portier misses with a punch to the body.
Portier misses with a punch on the inside.
A short right from Portier.
Franco swings wildly with an uppercut but Portier uses good head movement to avoid it.

Franco breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Franco throws a body punch but Portier moves out of range.
Portier cracks Franco with a big right hand that sees him stumbling back against the cage! Franco falls to his knees and Portier doesn't need a second invitatation - he rushes in and fires off several unanswered shots that force the referee to stop the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Linkin Portier!
A relieved looking Linkin Portier thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.