PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Pedro Franco (ranked 4653 p4p, 224 weight class) and Dmitry Putin (ranked 21327 p4p, 361 weight class). Pedro Franco is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Franco
vs
Putin

180 cm
30
145 lbs
6 - 10 - 0

170 cm
31
145 lbs
3 - 9 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

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 6 - 10 - 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 3 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Dmitry Putin!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Franco instigates a clinch.
Franco lands a good knee to the midsection. Putin won't want to take too many of those.
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.
Putin tries to break free but Franco pushes him back against the cage.

Putin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Franco is looking to clinch.
Franco tries to clinch but Putin moves out of range.
We've been hearing reports that Franco has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Franco is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Putin throws a series of strikes that have Franco backpedaling.

Putin gets tackled into the cage by Franco. Franco maintains the clinch.
Franco pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Putin is looking to break free of the clinch but Franco has double underhooks.
Franco fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Franco has a couple of punches blocked by Putin.
Franco's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Putin is trying to push Franco away but Franco has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Putin manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco avoids a punch combination nicely.
A solid leg kick lands there for Putin.

Putin gets tackled into the cage by Franco. Franco maintains the clinch.
Franco goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Franco throws an elbow that misses.
Franco lands an elbow inside that Putin shrugs off.
Putin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Putin takes an elbow to the temple.
Franco prevents Putin from breaking the clinch.
Franco keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Putin's efforts to push away.

Putin breaks the clinch.

Franco closes the distance and pushes Putin back into the cage.

Putin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Putin cracks the inside of Franco's front leg.
Franco tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Putin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Putin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Franco was well out of range. Poor timing from Putin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco tries to clinch but Putin is having none of it.
Franco ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Putin keeps the fight on the outside.
Franco tries to clinch up but Putin circles away and keeps his distance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Franco closes the distance and pushes Putin back into the cage.
Franco throws a head punch that misses.
Putin has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Franco tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Putin is trying to force a seperation but Franco has the dominant position.

Putin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Franco tries to clinch but Putin is having none of it.
Franco takes a jab right on the kisser.

Franco moves into the clinch.
Putin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Putin tries to break the clinch but Franco is controlling the position.
Putin blocks the elbow strike.
Franco misses with a punch on the inside.
Franco has Putin pressed against the cage, preventing Putin from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco lands a right hand that snaps the head of Putin backwards.
Putin is trying to break the clinch but Franco is controlling him.

Putin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Putin connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Franco moves into range and clinches up with Putin.
Franco swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Putin is trying to break free.
Franco looking to slow down the pace here.
Putin takes an elbow to the temple.
Putin prevents a body shot from Franco.
Putin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Putin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Franco has him pressed against the cage.

Putin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Franco instigates a clinch.
Franco misses with a hook from the clinch.

Putin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Franco tries to close the distance and clinch but Putin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Franco tries to close the distance and clinch up but Putin swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Franco instigates a clinch.
Franco tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Franco misses with a short punch on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Putin tries to break free but Franco pushes him back against the cage.
Putin takes an elbow to the temple.
Franco scores with a hook to the body.
Franco misses with a hook from the clinch.
Franco throws an elbow but it misses.
Franco lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Putin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Franco tries to close the distance and clinch but Putin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Franco tries to clinch but Putin moves out of range.
Putin wants to counter the offense by Franco and move into the clinch position.
Putin just misses with a punch to the body.
Franco is looking for a counter combo.
Franco tries to clinch up.

Franco instigates a clinch.
Franco scores with a shoulder strike.
Franco lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Franco throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pedro Franco dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Franco tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Putin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Putin swats away the attempt to clinch by Franco.
Franco tries to clinch there but Putin circles away.
Dmitry Putin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Franco is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Putin.
Putin scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Franco closes the distance and clinches.
Nice elbow from Franco.
Franco gets through Putin's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Putin blocks an elbow strike.
Franco working aggressively here.

Putin breaks from the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Franco tries to clinch but Putin is having none of it.
Putin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Franco dodges the punch combination from Putin.
Putin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Franco tries to clinch but Putin is having none of it.
Franco wants to clinch up but Putin keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco tries to clinch up.
Pedro Franco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Franco fails in his attempt to clinch.
Putin throws a nice looking combination but Franco bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Franco tries to clinch up.
Franco tries to clinch up.
Putin keeps the fight on the outside.
Putin misses with a body kick.
Franco seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Franco tries to clinch there but Putin circles away.
No joy there for Putin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The fight stays on the outside here - Franco looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Franco rushes Putin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Franco fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Franco fails to land.
Franco taking a breather.
Franco lands with a left to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Franco to work.
Franco misses with an elbow over the top.
Pedro Franco has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Franco misses with a short punch on the inside.
Putin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Franco fails to land.
Putin is trying to break the clinch but Franco is controlling him.

Putin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Putin connects with an inside leg kick.
Putin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The fight stays on the outside here - Franco looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Franco tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Franco tries to clinch there but Putin circles away.
Putin scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Franco forces Putin back against the cage and clinches.
Franco swings wildly with an uppercut but Putin uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco tries to land knees in the clinch but Putin avoids the damage to the body.
Putin avoids the elbow strike from Franco, against the cage.

Putin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Franco fails in his attempt to clinch.
Franco wants to clinch but Putin slips to the side
and Putin counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Putin throws a head kick that misses.
Franco is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Putin.
Franco is looking to clinch but Putin is avoiding it.
Putin throws a head kick that misses.
Franco is looking to clinch.
Franco doesn't manage to clinch there - Putin circles away.
Franco tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Putin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Franco tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Putin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Franco fails in his attempt to clinch.
Putin feints the counter takedown.
Putin throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco tries to close the distance and clinch but Putin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Franco is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Franco is looking to clinch but Putin is avoiding it.
Franco moves in looking to clinch but Putin pushes him off.
Putin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Franco fails in his attempt to clinch.
Franco tries to clinch but Putin moves out of range.
Franco closes the distance but Putin moves to the side
and Putin counters with a thumping low kick.
A head kick misses from Putin.
Franco tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Putin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Putin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Putin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pedro Franco is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Franco tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Franco tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Putin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Putin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Putin feints and then cracks Franco's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Franco down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dmitry Putin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Franco's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Franco tries to clinch there but Putin circles away.
Franco tries to close the distance and clinch up but Putin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Franco tries to clinch but Putin is having none of it.
Franco blocks a head kick by Putin.

Franco closes the distance and pushes Putin back into the cage.
Putin takes an elbow to the forehead.
Franco misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Putin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Franco fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Franco looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Franco tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Putin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Putin throws a front kick aimed at Franco's knee but Franco avoids it well.
Franco tries to close the distance and clinch up but Putin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Franco doesn't manage to clinch there - Putin circles away.
Franco tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Franco fails with an attempt to clinch.
Despite the aggression on Putin's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Franco closes the distance but Putin moves to the side

and Putin counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Putin.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Putin gets to his feet. Franco looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Franco fails with an attempt to clinch.
Putin scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Franco tries to clinch but Putin moves out of range.
Franco tries to clinch there but Putin circles away.
Putin misses with a low kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Franco looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Putin scores with a kick to the midsection.
Franco fails with an attempt to clinch.
Putin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Franco.
Franco fails with an attempt to clinch.
Putin keeps the fight on the outside.
Putin throws a wild body kick that Franco sees coming a mile off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Putin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Putin keeps the fight on the outside.
Putin tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Franco tries to clinch up.
Putin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Franco is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Putin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Franco wants to clinch up but Putin keeps it at a distance.
Franco tries to clinch but Putin moves away
and Putin counters with a head kick. That will keep Franco thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Putin gets tackled into the cage by Franco. Franco maintains the clinch.

Putin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
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!
Franco is looking to clinch.
Franco tries to close the distance and clinch but Putin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Putin lands with a straight right. Franco didn't see that one coming.

Franco closes the distance and clinches.
Franco misses with an elbow strike.
Franco misses with some punches.
Putin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Putin blocks an elbow strike.
Franco working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Franco prevents Putin from breaking the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Franco.
Putin has had enough of the clinch but Franco keeps him there for the moment.
A head punch on the inside from Franco fails to land.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Franco.
Franco doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Franco lands an elbow that stopped Putin in his tracks for a moment.
Putin tries to circle away but Franco has him pinned against the cage.
Franco throws a punch but it's blocked by Putin.
Franco lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Franco has Putin pressed against the cage, preventing Putin from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Franco creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Putin is trying to break free.
Putin is trying to break the clinch but Franco is controlling him.
Putin blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Putin has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Franco keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Putin's efforts to push away.
Franco misses with an elbow over the top.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Franco.
Franco connects with a knee to the head.
Franco lands an elbow just above Putin 's eye.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Putin working hard to break the clinch.
Franco swings wildly with an uppercut but Putin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Putin is trying to push Franco away but Franco has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Franco is working Putin over against the cage.
Franco scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Franco throws an elbow but it misses.

Putin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Putin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Putin lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
The fight stays on the outside here - Franco looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Pedro Franco.
I think Franco has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Pedro Franco!
Pedro Franco managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, King of Clothes, into his post fight interview.