PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Plebian Franco (ranked 5288 p4p, 5134 weight class) and Imagine Thibodeaux (ranked 536 p4p, 530 weight class). Imagine Thibodeaux will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Franco
vs
Thibodeaux

205 cm
25
255
3 - 0 - 1

218 cm
18
274
6 - 0 - 0

Good kicks
Granite chin

Excellent MT
Determined

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 3 - 0 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Plebian Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Imagine Thibodeaux!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Santiago Holmes and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franco tries to close the distance and clinch but Thibodeaux swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Franco clinches up against the ropes.
Thibodeaux blocking some punches.
Franco taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Franco unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Thibodeaux managing to block the knees to the body from Franco.
Thibodeaux is trying to break the clinch but Franco has him pressed against the ropes.
Thibodeaux looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Thibodeaux can't find room to land a body shot as Franco controls the action.
Franco is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Thibodeaux is defending well for now.
Franco makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Franco lands a hook to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Franco.
Thibodeaux misses with a hook from the clinch.
Franco looks to throw an elbow but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice elbow from Franco.

It looks like Imagine Thibodeaux has been cut.
Franco just leaning against Thibodeaux, taking a breather.
Thibodeaux blocks an elbow strike.
Franco tries a body shot but Thibodeaux blocks it.
Thibodeaux lands with a right to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Franco misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thibodeaux misses with a body punch.
Thibodeaux scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Thibodeaux misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Thibodeaux on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Franco blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Franco throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Thibodeaux blocks it with crossed arms.
Franco tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thibodeaux's elbow.
A short right from Franco on the inside.
Thibodeaux can't break the clinch.
Franco pushes off an throws an elbow but Thibodeaux leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Franco landing knees to the body.
Thibodeaux wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Franco looking to throw knees to the head but Thibodeaux is blocking nicely.
Franco missing with knees to the body.
Franco takes a shot to the head.
Thibodeaux goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Thibodeaux prevents a body shot from Franco.
Franco is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Franco swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco tries a body shot but Thibodeaux blocks it.
Thibodeaux misses with the head strike.
Franco putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Thibodeaux in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Franco pushes off an throws an elbow but Thibodeaux leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Franco lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A left hand lands to the body for Thibodeaux.
Franco misses with some punches.
Franco looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Thibodeaux is trying to push Franco away but Franco has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Franco blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Thibodeaux swings wildly with an uppercut but Franco uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Franco.
Thibodeaux dodges an elbow strike from Franco.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Franco throws an elbow but misses.
Franco pushes off an throws an elbow but Thibodeaux leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Franco tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Plebian Franco dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Imagine Thibodeaux's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Franco throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Good exchange - Franco coming out on top.
Thibodeaux throws a nice head kick!

Franco moves into the clinch.
Thibodeaux swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux is trying to force a seperation but Franco has the dominant position.
Thibodeaux wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Franco is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thibodeaux can do to turn this around?
Franco lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Franco looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Franco putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Thibodeaux in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Franco scores with a hook to the body.
Thibodeaux can't find room to land a body shot as Franco controls the action.
Franco working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Franco tries a knee to the head but Thibodeaux blocks it.
Thibodeaux swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Franco scores with an uppercut up the middle.
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 prevents Thibodeaux from breaking the clinch.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Franco here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Franco trying to control the position but instead, Thibodeaux has worked for underhooks and has pushed Franco into the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thibodeaux has had enough of the clinch but Franco keeps him there for the moment.
Thibodeaux wants to break free but Franco has control.
Franco throws an elbow but it misses.
Thibodeaux blocking some punches.
Franco taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Plebian Franco has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Thibodeaux managing to block the knees to the body from Franco.
Franco blocking some punches.
Thibodeaux blocks an elbow strike.
Thibodeaux throws a head punch that misses.
Franco tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Thibodeaux swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A hook to the body from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Franco goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Franco throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Thibodeaux has a couple of punches blocked by Franco.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux lands with a short shot to the head.
Thibodeaux misses with a hook from the clinch.
Franco prevents Thibodeaux from breaking the clinch.
Thibodeaux looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Franco stalls.
Thibodeaux misses with a hook from the clinch.
Franco with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Franco connects with a knee to the head.
Franco scores with a hook to the body.
Franco creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Thibodeaux's defenses.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Franco just misses with a elbow thrown towards Thibodeaux's brow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Franco lands a left hand.
Franco lands a nice shot to the body.
Franco throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Thibodeaux managing to block the knees to the body from Franco.
Franco fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Plebian Franco dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Imagine Thibodeaux's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Thibodeaux uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Franco.
Plebian Franco is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thibodeaux moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Thibodeaux scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Franco tries to clinch up.

Thibodeaux tries to keep at a distance but Franco has taken the fight into the clinch.
Franco misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Franco has him pressed against the ropes.
Franco blocking some punches.
Thibodeaux wants to get back to striking at distance but Franco won't allow it.
Franco tries to land knees in the clinch but Thibodeaux avoids the damage to the body.
Thibodeaux avoiding damage as Franco throws knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thibodeaux scores with a hook to the body.
Thibodeaux avoiding damage as Franco throws knees to the body.
Thibodeaux pushes Franco back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A frustrated look appears on Thibodeaux's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Thibodeaux on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thibodeaux lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Franco backwards.
Thibodeaux blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Thibodeaux lands a left hand that snaps the head of Franco backwards.
Franco tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thibodeaux managing to block the knees to the body from Franco.
Franco pushes Thibodeaux back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Thibodeaux working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Franco leaning against his opponent.
Franco pressing his opponent against the ropes.
Franco gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Imagine Thibodeaux has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thibodeaux lands a left hand.
Franco tries to land knees in the clinch but Thibodeaux avoids the damage to the body.
A short right from Thibodeaux on the inside.
Franco throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Thibodeaux blocks it with crossed arms.
Thibodeaux misses with the head strike.
A short right from Thibodeaux.
A short right from Thibodeaux.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A short left from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Franco backwards.
Thibodeaux blocks an elbow strike.
Thibodeaux gets through Franco's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Franco misses with a hook to the ribs.
Franco tries a body shot but Thibodeaux blocks it.
Franco tries to land knees in the clinch but Thibodeaux avoids the damage to the body.
Thibodeaux softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Thibodeaux working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Thibodeaux lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Thibodeaux lands an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Franco.
Franco lands an uppercut.
Thibodeaux swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Thibodeaux fails to land.
Franco blocks an uppercut.
Thibodeaux prevents a body shot from Franco.
Franco blocks an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Imagine Thibodeaux comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:28
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Plebian Franco!
During a confident post fight interview, Plebian Franco thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.