PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Young Lad (ranked 1656 p4p, 233 weight class) and Rei Francisco (ranked 3627 p4p, 480 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lad
vs
Francisco

175 cm
19
220 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

190 cm
26
210 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Young Lad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rei Francisco!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Peter Branson and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Francisco's corner calls for a 1-2. Francisco obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Francisco misses with a lunging right hand
and Lad counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Francisco throws a right hand that misses
and Lad counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lad definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
The fighters circling - Francisco throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A quick step to the side and Lad tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
A big right from Francisco misses.
Francisco throws a hook to the side of Lad's head but Lad sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lad defending well as Francisco loads up on a big left hand.
Francisco misses with a left hand
and Lad counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Francisco misses the body punch
and Lad counters with a straight right hand.
Francisco thows a left - swing and a miss!
As Francisco tries to get set, Lad tries to push him back and clinch up but Francisco manages to avoid the attempt.
Francisco misses with a body shot.
Lad is looking to counter the offense by Francisco and move into the clinch.
Francisco throws a combination that misses
and Lad counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Francisco misses with a right hand
and Lad counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lad with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Francisco to score with a decent uppercut.
Francisco throws a shot to the body.
Francisco misses with an uppercut
and Lad counters with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Francisco jabs at Lad's body.
Francisco lands a nice looking body shot.
A big right from Francisco misses.
Lad wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Rei Francisco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab from Francisco misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Francisco. Lad does a little dance to reset his feet.
Francisco throws a combination that misses
and Lad counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Francisco thinking.
Francisco rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lad moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lad tries to counter by clinching up but Francisco breaks away and moves out of range.
Francisco looks to land a left hand but Lad moved out of range nicely.
Lad is looking to counter punch.
Lad throws a hook but Francisco blocks it.
Francisco throws a looping overhand right but Lad ducks down to avoid it.
We've been informed that Francisco has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Francisco misses with a few strikes there.
As Francisco tries to get set, Lad tries to push him back and clinch up but Francisco manages to avoid the attempt.
The fighters circling - Francisco throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Francisco throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Francisco throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Francisco throws a poor cross that misses

and Lad holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Lad lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Francisco tries a body shot but Lad blocks it.
A short right from Lad on the inside.
Good body shot from Lad.
Lad digs a right hand underneath Francisco's ribcage. Francisco let out a lung full of air as it connected.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Francisco.
Francisco tries to work over Lad's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Francisco tries to break the clinch but Lad is controlling the position.
Francisco can't find room to land a body shot as Lad controls the action.
Francisco misses with a hook to the ribs.
Francisco is trying to push Lad away but Lad has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Francisco doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francisco tries to break free but Lad pushes him back against the cage.
Francisco misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short left from Francisco.
Lad tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Francisco's elbow.
Francisco can't find room to land a body shot as Lad controls the action.
Francisco misses with a punch to the body.
Lad lands with a right to the head.
Lad lands a left hand.

Francisco is rocked!
Francisco can't break the clinch.
Francisco is still on wobbly legs! Can Lad finish him?
Lad misses with some punches.
Francisco seems to have recovered his senses.
Lad works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Francisco is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Francisco has had enough of the clinch but Lad keeps him there for the moment.
Lad lands a body shot.
Lad working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Francisco manages to break the clinch.
Lad uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Francisco.
Lad seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Francisco misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lad.
Francisco misses with a lunging right hand
and Lad cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Francisco throws a poor cross that misses
and Lad counters with a nice body shot.
Francisco looks winded!
Francisco misses with a hook
and Lad counters with a nice uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Francisco connects with a body shot.
Francisco misses with a hook to the body
and Lad counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Francisco misses with a jab, cross combination.
Francisco misses with a body shot
and Lad counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Francisco rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Lad counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Lad moves into range and clinches up with Francisco.
Lad avoiding damage as Francisco throws knees to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Lad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Young Lad dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Francisco misses with a body punch

and Lad holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Francisco tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lad's elbow.
Young Lad has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Lad misses with a punch to the body.

Francisco breaks the clinch.
Francisco swings widly with a right hand

and Lad holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Lad lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Francisco tries to break the clinch but Lad is controlling the position.
Francisco tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Francisco blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lad scores with an uppercut up the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Francisco.
Francisco misses with a hook to the ribs.
A shot in the inside from Lad.
Francisco tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lad's elbow.
Francisco goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lad tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Lad is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Francisco can do to turn this around?
Francisco misses with a punch to the body.
A body shot lands from Lad.
Lad scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Francisco goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lad dips a shoulder and cracks Francisco with a mighty uppercut! Francisco falls back against the cage and Lad unloads with a barrage of strikes! Francisco is completely out with his eyes open, only supported by the cage! Save him ref! Eventually the ref decides to do his job and jumps in - Lad screams abuse at the incompetent official before going over to celebrate with his corner. Brutal stuff!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Young Lad!
In his post fight interview, Young Lad started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.