PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Begbie Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franco comes to the cage accompanied by Born Slippy. Johnson has chosen Blood of Heroes! as his entrance music. Craig Johnson told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Franco
vs
Johnson

185 cm
39
190 lbs
36 - 22 - 1

168 cm
38
200 lbs
21 - 17 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Spartan Nutrition
Sun-Tzu

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 36 - 22 - 1, fighting out of London, Begbie Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 17 - 0, fighting out of New York, Craig Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Ian Loll and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A shot to the body from Johnson misses
and Franco counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Craig Johnson has been cut.
Franco lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Johnson digs a good hook to Franco's body.
Johnson tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Franco moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Johnson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Johnson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Franco circles away quickly and effectively.
Franco keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Johnson connects with a body shot that sends Franco's belly button to the back.
Franco throws a right and a left that both miss.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson misses the body punch
and Franco counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Johnson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
It looked like Franco was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Johnson.
Johnson tries to score with a low kick but Franco moves his leg out of the way.
Franco fires out a quick counter leg kick but Johnson just manages to avoid it.
Johnson jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Johnson checks a leg kick.
Craig Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson lands a slapping body shot.
Johnson misses with a wild body shot.
Johnson throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Franco stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Franco blocks a jab.
An inside leg kick from Johnson misses.
Franco appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Johnson throws a predictable looking body shot
and Franco counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Franco takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Johnson is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Franco rather than just go for the knockout.
Johnson misses with a looping right.
Johnson misses with a kick to the body.
Franco throws a body kick that misses.
Franco ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.
As Johnson looks to move away, Franco throws a big counter combo but Johnson just gets out of the way.
Franco takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Franco avoids the body shot from Johnson.
Franco appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson 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.
Franco throws a low kick but it's checked well by Johnson.
Johnson doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Franco uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Johnson.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Franco avoids the body shot from Johnson.
Johnson loads up on a big right hand but Franco slips the punch.
Johnson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Franco scores with a nice right hand.
Johnson misses with an uppercut
and Franco counters with a nice low kick that buckles Johnson's knee momentarily.
Johnson lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Johnson misses with a hook
and Franco counters with a good low kick that Johnson was not able to check.
Johnson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Johnson throws a leg kick but Franco sees it coming and moves out of range.
Franco lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Franco misses with an uppercut.
Johnson throws a counter combo.
Johnson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Nice combo by Johnson! Oh, that's hurt him - Franco falls to the canvas and Johnson follows him into side control.

Franco is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson wants to stand but Franco has his arm trapped.
Oh Franco is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Franco is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at ~T~ Troid - Gym that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Johnson decides to stand back up.
Johnson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Franco seems to have got his legs back now.
Franco lands a high kick!
Johnson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Johnson misses with a series of wild punches.
Johnson misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a lazy uppercut
and Franco connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That has opened up Craig Johnson's cut even more.
Franco is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Johnson misses the shot to the body.
A big right from Johnson misses.
Johnson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Johnson misses with a jab to the body
enabling Franco to counter with a crisp jab.
Franco is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
A shot to the body from Johnson misses
and Franco counters with a straight right hand.

The cut above Craig Johnson's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Johnson misses with a body shot
and Franco scores with a counter punch that sends Johnson to the canvas! Franco smells blood - he's punishing Johnson with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! Johnson has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:36 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Begbie Franco!
After winning the bout, Begbie Franco thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.