PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stjepan Balerina (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bonzela Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Balerina
vs
Franco

190 cm
25
245 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

193 cm
18
246 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Stjepan Balerina!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bonzela Franco!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Michael Johnstone and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Franco stuffs the takedown attempt from Balerina. Balerina gets slowly back to his feet.
Franco is looking for the big counter here.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Franco lands with a right hand.
Balerina has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Island Top Team in the buildup to the fight.
Franco fails to land with a series of punches.
Balerina appears to be looking for a big counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franco will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balerina looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Franco is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Franco throws a series of punches but Balerina moves out of range.
Balerina shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Franco pinned against the cage. Franco gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stjepan Balerina. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Balerina is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Franco swinging wildly here.
As Franco looks to move away, Balerina throws a big counter combo but Franco just gets out of the way.
Balerina shoots in and drives through. Franco sprawls well.
Franco is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Franco misses with a two punch combination.
Balerina appears to be looking for a big counter.
Franco clobbers Balerina with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Franco scores with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco misses with a jab, cross combination.
Balerina shoots and misses
and Franco counters with a one-two to the body.
Franco will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Balerina tries for a takedown but Franco circles away easily
and Franco counters with a three punch combo that has Balerina backing up. Balerina nods at Franco to acknowledge the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Franco!
Franco misses with a jab, cross combination.
No joy there for Franco, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Balerina gets cracked there but stands up to it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jab by Franco.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bonzela Franco dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Franco looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Balerina shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Franco cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Franco looks to land a combination. Balerina sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No joy there for Franco, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
An attempted straight right counter from Balerina misses the target.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Franco lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Balerina circles away quickly and effectively.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Balerina might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Franco misses.
Franco scores with a one two! Balerina had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Balerina tries for a takedown but Franco circles away easily
and Franco counters with a three punch combo that has Balerina backing up. Balerina nods at Franco to acknowledge the strikes.
Balerina doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Franco counters with a three punch combo that has Balerina backing up. Balerina nods at Franco to acknowledge the strikes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stjepan Balerina. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco throws a right and a left that Balerina avoids nicely.
Balerina is looking for a counter combo.
Bonzela Franco is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Franco fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Balerina changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Franco throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Balerina throwing a counter right hand but Franco manages to avoid it.
Franco throws a series of punches but Balerina avoids them all with ease.
Franco fails to land with a series of punches.
Balerina went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balerina changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Franco tries to avoid it but Balerina manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Franco to the ground. Franco escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Franco unleashes a big counter combination but Balerina bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Franco throws a right and a left that both miss.
Balerina attempts a counter takedown but Franco avoids it well and moves away.
Franco misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Franco has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nice body punch from Franco.
Franco misses with a double jab.
Balerina with a lazy takedown attempt
and Franco counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Franco scores with a four punch combination!
Balerina drops his hands momentarily and Franco takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Franco tries to bum rush Balerina with a series of wild strikes but Balerina uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sloppy strikes from Franco. Those never looked like landing.
We've been informed that Franco has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sloppy strikes from Franco. Those never looked like landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bonzela Franco showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Franco swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Franco uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Franco!
Franco throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Balerina counters with a body kick that stops Franco in his tracks momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franco falls off balance throwing a combination
and Balerina counters with a series of strikes. Franco will be more careful next time no doubt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Franco does no damage.
As Franco looks to move away, Balerina throws a big counter combo but Franco just gets out of the way.
Balerina is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Franco.
Franco will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Franco connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Balerina's hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Franco.
Balerina appears to be looking for a big counter.
Franco throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Franco throws a left and a right that both miss
and Franco takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Balerina.
Bonzela Franco is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Balerina. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Balerina showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Franco.
Balerina is looking to counter punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Balerina throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Franco tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Balerina is in Franco's guard.
Balerina trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Balerina with a flurry of punches that miss.
Balerina won't allow Franco to get back to his feet.
Stjepan Balerina has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Balerina has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bonzela Franco comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Franco winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 David Hoff scores the fight 25:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 25:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bonzela Franco!
Bonzela Franco seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.