PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Linkin Portier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Begbie Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franco is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Born Slippy. Linkin Portier could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Begbie Franco's chin.

Portier
vs
Franco

185 cm
34
186 lbs
26 - 14 - 2

185 cm
37
190 lbs
32 - 17 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Four Aces Nutrition
Hellbent

Mohito Fightwear
Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 14 - 2, fighting out of New York, Linkin Portier!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 17 - 1, fighting out of London, Begbie Franco!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Colin Fotheringham and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franco tries a head kick but it misses.
Franco throws a right hand that Portier ducks under and follows up with a left that Portier also avoids with ease.

Portier moves into the clinch successfully.
Portier lands with a short shot to the head.
Portier fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Franco tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Portier has Franco pressed against the cage, preventing Franco from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Nice body punch from Portier.
Portier tries to work over Franco's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Franco lands a hook that snaps the head of Portier backwards.
Portier lands a nice uppercut.
Franco can't find room to land a body shot as Portier controls the action.
Portier lands a hook that snaps the head of Franco backwards.
Portier throws a punch but it's blocked by Franco.
Portier misses with some punches.
Portier swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Portier lands an uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Portier lands a left hand.
Franco tries to work over Portier's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Franco.
Franco lands with a left to the head.
Portier misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Portier throws a head punch that misses.
Portier throws a head punch that misses.
Portier lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Portier.
Portier misses with a punch on the inside.

Franco breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Portier goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Portier misses with an uppercut.
Portier lands with a hook. Franco tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Portier has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Jungle Elite MMA in the buildup to the fight.
Franco pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Portier throws the left hand but Franco avoids the punch easily.

Oooooh!!! Portier has knocked Franco down with a huge combo! Portier steps away and waves a wobbly Franco back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Franco is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Portier looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Franco is still on wobbly legs! Can Portier finish him?
Franco throws a head kick but Portier moves out of range.
Franco has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Portier moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Portier moves into the clinch.
Portier lands a shoulder strike.
Portier misses with a hook to the ribs.
Franco misses with a punch to the body.
Franco tries a body shot but Portier blocks it.
Portier lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Portier makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Portier struggles to land a body shot inside as Franco controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Portier pushes Franco back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Portier working aggressively here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Portier fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Portier lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Portier misses with some punches.
Portier lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Portier misses with the head strike.
Franco tries a body shot but Portier blocks it.
Portier lands a body shot.
Franco scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Franco.
Franco seems to have recovered his senses.
Franco lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Portier throws a punch but it's blocked by Franco.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Portier.
Portier lands with a light punch inside.
Portier blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Portier stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Franco.
Franco blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Portier works on Franco's body with a couple of short punches.
Franco looks winded!
Franco fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Portier lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Portier cracks Franco with a nice body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Portier lands a shoulder strike.
Franco blocks a body shot from Portier.
Franco misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Franco throws a head punch that misses.
Portier prevents Franco from breaking the clinch.
Portier lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Franco.
Franco blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Portier.
Franco doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Franco takes a shot to the head.
Franco misses with a hook from the clinch.
Portier softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Portier.
Portier scores with a nice hook to the head.

Portier drops Franco onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Franco is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Franco working aggressively here.
Franco takes a shot to the head.
Portier keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Franco's efforts to push away.
Portier misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Portier misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Franco.
Portier tries to throw a body punch but Franco avoids it by throwing Portier back against the cage.
Franco misses with a body punch.
Franco prevents a body shot from Portier.
Portier misses with a punch on the inside.
Portier can't find room to land a body shot as Franco controls the action.
Portier has Franco pressed against the cage, preventing Franco from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Franco lands a left hand that snaps the head of Portier backwards.
Franco throws a head punch that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Portier.
Portier prevents a body shot from Franco.
Portier working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Portier lands a body punch.
Portier lands on the inside with an uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Franco can't find room to land a body shot as Portier controls the action.
Portier working aggressively here.
Portier tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Franco's elbow.
Portier misses with a hook from the clinch.
Franco struggles to land a body shot inside as Portier controls his hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Linkin Portier dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Portier takes a swing at Franco's ribcage but misses.
Franco lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Franco takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Portier swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Franco defending well as Portier loads up on a big left hand.
Portier fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Franco checks it well.
Portier connects with a looping right hand.
Portier is looking to clinch but Franco is avoiding it.
Linkin Portier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Portier lands a body shot.
Portier lands a head kick!
Franco shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Linkin Portier is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Franco moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Franco misses the shot to the body.
Portier connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Portier moves in looking to clinch but Franco pushes him off.
Franco doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

Portier cracks Franco with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Franco looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Portier finish him?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Franco tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Portier is able to avoid easily.
Portier seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Portier feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Franco's calf.
Franco throws a hook to the side of Portier's head but Portier sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Portier went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Portier connects with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Portier misses with a straight left.
Portier swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Franco throws out a counter right but Portier avoids it with no problem.

Portier has managed to clinch.

Franco breaks the clinch.
Nice uppercut lands for Franco. That snapped Portier's head back.
Franco misses with a wild body shot.
Franco fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Portier is out of range.
Portier misses with the combination.
Franco throws a lazy right hand but Portier sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Portier swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Franco circles away from the clinch attempt.
Franco lands a head kick!
Portier throws a body punch but Franco moves out of range.
Portier moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Franco keeps the fight on the outside.
Franco appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Franco just misses with a punch to the body.
Portier tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Franco was well out of range. Poor timing from Portier.
Franco's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Portier connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Franco scrambles back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Portier motions for Franco to come forward. Portier throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Portier is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Franco was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Portier throws a leg kick but Franco moved away.

Portier pushes Franco up against the cage in a clinch.
Portier misses with a hook to the ribs.
Portier misses with some punches.
Portier gets through Franco's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Portier lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Portier misses with the head strike.
Portier lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Portier throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Francos head.
A hook to the body from Franco.
Portier swings wildly with an uppercut but Franco uses good head movement to avoid it.
Franco has a couple of punches blocked by Portier.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Portier.
Portier throws a punch but it's blocked by Franco.
Portier lands with a light punch inside.
Portier misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Portier swings wildly with an uppercut but Franco uses good head movement to avoid it.
Portier has a couple of punches blocked by Franco.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Portier.
Franco doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Franco blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Franco looking to slow down the pace here.
Portier throws a head punch that misses.

Franco breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Portier misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Franco.
Franco follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.

Portier moves into the clinch.
Franco tries a body shot but Portier blocks it.
Portier lands with a light punch inside.
Portier misses with a body punch.
Nice body punch from Portier.
Franco is breathing heavily.
Franco blocks a body shot from Portier.
Portier doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Portier throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Portier lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Portier.
Portier lands a shoulder strike.
Portier fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Franco goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Portier misses with a hook to the ribs.
Franco prevents a body shot from Portier.
Nice body punch from Portier - that landed with a thud.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Portier fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Franco misses with a punch to the body.
Portier misses with some punches.
Franco is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A short right from Franco.
Franco tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Portier is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Franco can do to turn this around?
A right handed body shot lands from Portier.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Portier misses with a short punch on the inside.
A right hook to the body lands for Portier.
Franco blocks an uppercut.
Portier scores with a shoulder strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Linkin Portier dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Portier connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Portier lands a left and a right that send Franco crashing to the mat, dazed. Portier thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Linkin Portier is winning the standup battle so far.
Franco misses with a hook.
Franco on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Franco switches off momentarily and Portier cracks him with a monster right hand! Franco topples backwards and makes a semi conscious attempt to cover up, as Portier dives in to land one more shot, before the referee has time to call the fight. What a finish by Portier!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Linkin Portier!
Linkin Portier retains his middleweight title!
After winning the bout, Linkin Portier thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.