PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Elisha Clark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pedro Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Clark
vs
Franco

160 cm
18
151 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

180 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Elisha Clark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Pedro Franco!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Wagner Zegers and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Clark shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Franco looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Clark looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Clark is trying to control. Franco wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Clark working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Franco is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Clark scores with a couple of nice shots.
Nice strikes from Clark there.
Clark drops an elbow to the side of Franco's head.
Franco tries to kick Clark off in order to stand up. Clark Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Franco is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Clark with the ground and pound but Franco regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Clark not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Franco is trying to stand.

Franco has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Clark is on him like a limpet, forcing Franco back against the cage.
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 real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Franco drags the fight down to the ground.
Franco has momentary wrist control but Clark slips an elbow through the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco is looking to stand up but Clark isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Clark working some strikes from top position.
Clark is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Clark might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Clark is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Clark could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Franco is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Clark trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Clark landing with the ground and pound.
Clark wants to control from the top but Franco keeps moving.
Clark keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Franco's head.
Clark trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Clark is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco has momentary wrist control but Clark slips an elbow through the middle.
Clark with a nice head shot there.
Clark working some strikes from top position.
Franco is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Clark accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Clark is in close to Franco's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Clark controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Clark seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Franco for as long as he can get away with.
Clark makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clark stands up over Franco, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Clark is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Clark tries to stand but Franco is controlling from the bottom.
Clark scoring with punches to the head and body.
Clark with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Clark keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Franco's head.
Franco utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Clark is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Clark scoring with some ground and pound.
Clark controlling from the top position.
Clark's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clark landing some decent shots from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franco wants to get back to his feet but Clark is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Clark wants to control from the top but Franco keeps moving.
Clark is standing up over Franco. Franco looks to escape but Clark dives into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Clark cracks Franco with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Franco seems a little lost for a moment, as Clark dominates the positioning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elisha Clark dominated that round.
That's time! Clark's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Franco shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Clark manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Clark working a defensive guard here.
Clark pulls Franco in to control the position.

Clark scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Clark shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Franco is trying to defend but Clark finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Franco is trying to stand up here but Clark is controlling him well.
Clark lands strikes from half guard.
Franco is breathing heavily.
Clark takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Franco is trying to stand back up but Clark is controlling him
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Clark connects with a nice short shot to Franco's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Clark scores with a couple of nice shots.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Clark lands a nice short elbow.
Clark scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Clark is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Clark looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Clark there.
Ground and pound from Clark.
Clark is keen to just control but Franco is a slippery customer.
Elisha Clark overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Franco has hold of Clark's hands but Clark slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Clark lands with a punch from half guard.
Franco wants to get back to his feet.
Clark seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Clark connects with a nice short shot to Franco's temple.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Clark connects with a nice short shot to Franco's temple.
Clark working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Clark is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Franco sees it coming and defends easily.
Franco is looking to get back to is feet but Clark passes into side control.
Clark landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Franco is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Clark is controlling him well.
Clark lands a nice forearm strike.
Clark wants to lay and pray for a moment but Franco keeps working.
Clark is really struggling to control Franco but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Clark is putting a hurting on Franco here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Clark looking to finish Franco with some ground and pound. This is bad for Franco!
Franco wants to try and get back to his feet.
Clark is landing with some decent strikes but Franco is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Clark lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Franco hang on?
Franco really wants to buck Clark off and get back to his feet.
Clark working Franco over with strikes here.
Franco wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clark punishing his opponent with strikes.
Franco is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Clark landing strikes from the mount and Franco is in trouble!
Franco trying desperately to get to his feet.
Franco taking shots to the head.
Franco is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Clark is landing with some decent strikes but Franco is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Franco is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Clark won't let Franco get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Franco is still in real trouble! Can Clark finish him?
Clark fails to advance to Franco's back.
Franco is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Clark lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Clark controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elisha Clark dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Franco scores with a takedown into Clark's guard.
Franco seems to have recovered his senses.
Clark throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Clark looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Clark 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.
Clark is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clark is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Franco is looking to work some ground and pound but Clark has wrist control.
Franco takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Franco throws a strike but Clark rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clark landing some decent shots from guard.
Clark working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Franco's head.
Franco is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Clark lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Clark stands up over Franco, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Clark loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Clark throws a big right hand that misses.
Franco wants to stand up but Clark is controlling him.
Clark lands a couple of digs.
Clark scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clark landing some decent shots from guard.
Franco is looking to stand up but Clark isn't so interested in that idea.
Clark stands up over Franco, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Clark distracts Franco with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Clark is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Franco can do to turn this around?
Clark lands a couple of digs.
Clark is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Franco is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Clark is controlling him.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Clark gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clark is looking to control Franco's arms but Franco gets an underhook and turns him. Now Clark has his back to the cage.
Clark missing with knees to the body.
Clark looking to slow down the pace here.

Franco gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Clark regains guard.
Clark is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pedro Franco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Clark tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Clark avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Clark wants to stand up but Franco is controlling him.
Clark working a defensive guard here.
Clark wants to sweep here but Franco controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clark trying to keep a closed guard but Franco is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Clark rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Franco moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Franco scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Clark avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Franco.
Franco working the strikes but Clark uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Franco is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Clark tries to get to full guard but Franco has control of the leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
Elisha Clark showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Clark has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elisha Clark!