PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Pedro Franco (ranked 6970 p4p, 299 weight class) and Oliver Ramirez (ranked 4340 p4p, 215 weight class). Ramirez is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Whatever It Takes. Pedro Franco has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Franco
vs
Ramirez

180 cm
28
145 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

165 cm
22
140 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Fanatic Inc.
Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Pedro Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Oliver Ramirez!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ramirez shoots in for a takedown but Franco shows good takedown defense.
Franco is looking to counter the offense by Ramirez and move into the clinch.
Franco defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ramirez.
Horrible takedown attempt by Ramirez or perhaps it was just good defense by Franco, which made it look bad.
Pedro Franco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oliver Ramirez.

Franco rushes Ramirez and presses him up against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Franco - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Franco can't find room to land a body shot as Ramirez controls the action.
Franco looking to throw knees to the head but Ramirez is blocking nicely.
Franco misses with a hook from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franco trying to control the position but instead, Ramirez has worked for underhooks and has pushed Franco into the cage.
Franco swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Franco taking a breather.
Franco taking a breather.
Franco seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Ramirez is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.
Franco has a couple of punches blocked by Ramirez.
Ramirez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Franco throws a punch but it's blocked by Ramirez.
Franco throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ramirez blocks it with crossed arms.
Franco tries to land a knee to the head but Ramirez blocks with his arms.
Franco lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Franco just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ramirez's brow.
With the fighters up against the cage, Franco throws an elbow but misses.
Franco misses with an elbow strike.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Franco.
Franco really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Franco scores with a nice hook to the head.
Franco lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ramirez takes an elbow to the temple.
Franco is trying to stall.
Franco lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ramirez backwards.
Franco is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Franco pushes off an throws an elbow but Ramirez leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Ramirez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Franco is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Franco makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Franco is looking to control Ramirez's arms but Ramirez gets an underhook and turns him. Now Franco has his back to the cage.
Franco misses with an elbow over the top.
Franco scores with a shoulder strike.
Franco misses with a knee strike.
Franco misses with a knee strike.
Franco misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco lands with a right to the head.
Franco misses with an elbow over the top.
Franco tries to land a knee to the head but Ramirez blocks with his arms.
Franco stalling in the clinch but Ramirez improves position.
Franco misses with an elbow strike.
Franco working aggressively here.
Franco stalling against the cage.
A knee to the head by Franco.
Franco swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Franco tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Franco using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ramirez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Franco misses with some punches.
Ramirez is looking to take this one to the mat.
Ramirez is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Franco is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ramirez wants a takedown.
Ramirez blocks an elbow strike from Franco.
Franco throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Franco is stalling here.
Franco tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ramirez's elbow.
Franco stalling the fight.
Franco tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ramirez tries for a takedown. No joy.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Franco.
Franco fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ramirez blocking some punches.
Franco misses with a body punch.
Ramirez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ramirez fails with the takedown.
Franco defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ramirez.
Franco tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Ramirez manages to circle out of the way.
Ramirez shoots in but Franco avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Pedro Franco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oliver Ramirez.
Ramirez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ramirez shoots in looking for a takedown. Franco tries to sprawl out of it but Ramirez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Franco manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Franco seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ramirez shoots in looking for a takedown but Franco manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ramirez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ramirez misses with a takedown attempt - Franco sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Franco tries to clinch there but Ramirez circles away.
Ramirez with the counter takedown but Franco avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ramirez fails with the takedown.
Franco tries to clinch up but Ramirez circles away and keeps his distance.
Pedro Franco is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ramirez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Franco but Franco pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Franco is looking to counter the offense by Ramirez and move into the clinch.
Ramirez misses with a takedown attempt

and Franco counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Franco gets to his feet. Ramirez looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Franco drives through and clinches with Ramirez against the cage.
Franco misses with a punch on the inside.
Franco gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Franco slows down the pace here.
Ramirez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ramirez wants a takedown but no success here.
Ramirez blocks the elbow strike.
Franco tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Ramirez is looking for a takedown.
Franco has a couple of punches blocked by Ramirez.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Franco.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Franco trying to stall but Ramirez improves his position.
Franco misses with an elbow over the top.
Ramirez is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Franco is defending well.
Franco misses with an elbow over the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco tries a knee to the head but Ramirez blocks it.
Franco is struggling to control the position.
Ramirez wants to take the fight to the mat but Franco manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Franco throws a punch but it's blocked by Ramirez.
Franco lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Franco misses with an elbow over the top.
Franco working aggressively here.
Ramirez blocks an uppercut.
Ramirez has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Franco after a bit of a struggle.
Franco tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Franco misses with an elbow over the top.
Franco misses with an elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Franco tries to stall but Ramirez uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ramirez.
Franco tries to land a knee to the head but Ramirez blocks with his arms.
Franco is pressed up against the cage. Ramirez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Franco down to the mat. Franco avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ramirez misses with a takedown attempt
and Franco counters with a two punch combo.
Franco is looking to clinch.
Franco moves in looking to clinch but Ramirez pushes him off.
Ramirez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ramirez doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Franco counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Franco misses with a hook from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pedro Franco dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ramirez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ramirez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Franco sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ramirez somewhat.
Ramirez dives in and grabs Franco's left leg, looking for a takedown. Franco pushes down on Ramirez's head and hops out.
Pedro Franco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oliver Ramirez.
Ramirez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Franco circles away.
Ramirez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Franco pinned against the cage. Franco gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ramirez dives in and grabs Franco's left leg, looking for a takedown. Franco pushes down on Ramirez's head and hops out.
Ramirez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ramirez shoots for a takedown but Franco saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Franco rushes Ramirez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Franco misses with a short punch on the inside.
Franco lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco is pressed up against the cage. Ramirez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Franco down to the mat. Franco avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Franco is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ramirez can do to turn this around?

Franco clinches with his opponent.
Ramirez blocks an elbow strike.
A short uppercut from Franco.
Franco tries a knee to the head but Ramirez blocks it.
Franco fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Franco tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Franco just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ramirez's brow.
Ramirez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Franco is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Franco is pressed up against the cage. Ramirez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Franco down to the mat. Franco avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ramirez dives in for a single leg takedown but Franco sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Franco clinches.
Franco creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ramirez is trying to drag Franco to the mat but Franco just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Franco with an attempt at a knee that misses.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Franco leaning against his opponent.
A nice left hand lands by Franco.

Franco is fighting off a takedown attempt but Ramirez is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Franco to the mat. Franco regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ramirez prevents Franco from getting back to his feet.

Franco has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Ramirez is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Franco throws an elbow that misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Franco.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Franco misses with an elbow over the top.
Pedro Franco has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Ramirez dodges an elbow strike from Franco.
Franco misses with some punches.
Franco misses with a knee to the head.
Pedro Franco is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Franco prevents a takedown attempt there.
Franco swings wildly with an uppercut but Ramirez uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Nice elbow from Franco.
Ramirez has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Franco after a bit of a struggle.
Ramirez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Franco pulls his leg out and moves away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Franco tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ramirez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ramirez tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Ramirez gets a takedown into half guard.
Oliver Ramirez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Ramirez is looking for a kimura here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pedro Franco showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Franco 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:25
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:25
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pedro Franco!
Pedro Franco made sure to mention his sponsor, King of Clothes in his post fight interview.