PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Franky Cherry (ranked 24758 p4p, 1348 weight class) and Juan David Franco (ranked 689 p4p, 209 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.

Cherry
vs
Franco

185 cm
20
180
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
21
202
7 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Barry Bonds Performance Enhancers $120 3 160Q
HELLBENT

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Franky Cherry!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Juan David Franco!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Eddie Farnsworth and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franco lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cherry's sensitive parts.
Franco tries a head kick but it misses.
A little feinted left hand from Cherry on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Franco misses with a right hand
and Cherry connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Franco swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cherry was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Franco misses with a leg kick
letting Cherry counter with a right hand.
Franco fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Cherry looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Franco lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cherry's sensitive parts.
Cherry walks into a straight right hand from Franco.
Franco throws an off balance right hand
and Cherry counters with a series of strikes. Franco will be more careful next time no doubt.
A shot to the body from Franco misses
and Cherry counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
An inside leg kick lands from Franco.
Juan David Franco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A slapping leg kick lands for Franco.
Cherry checks a low kick from Franco.
It looked like Cherry was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cherry moves in looking to clinch but Franco pushes him off.
Franco getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Franco throws a front kick aimed at Cherry's knee but Cherry avoids it well.
It looked like Cherry wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Franco throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A slapping leg kick lands for Franco.
A big right from Franco misses.
Franco misses with an uppercut. Cherry saw that one coming.
A little feinted left hand from Cherry on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Franco misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cherry.
Franco throws a right hand that misses
and Franco takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cherry bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cherry went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Franco tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cherry was well out of range. Poor timing from Franco.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco throws a jab but it's blocked by Cherry.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Franco, as that shot connected.
Franco tries to land a front kick but Cherry steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Franco swings widly with a right hand
and Cherry counters with a straight right hand.
Cherry avoids the body shot from Franco.
Franco misses with a right hand
and Cherry counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Franco throws a head kick that misses.
Cherry appears to be looking for a big counter.
Franco throws a right hand that misses
and Cherry counters with a nice uppercut.
Franco misses with a hook. Cherry ducked under it nicely.
Franco connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Cherry uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Franco.
Cherry appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Franco misses with a leg kick
and Franco takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Franco rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Cherry counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Franco throws a nice inside leg kick.
Franco misses with a leg kick
and Cherry cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Franco connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A telegraphed right hand from Franco misses the target.
As Franco looks to move away, Cherry throws a big counter combo but Franco just gets out of the way.
Cherry is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
A leg kick checked by Cherry.
An attempted straight right counter from Cherry misses the target.
Franco tries a head kick but it misses.
Cherry is looking to counter punch.
The fighters circling - Franco throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cherry staying out of range there.
Cherry swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Cherry counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cherry uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Franco.
A jab from Franco misses.
It looked like Cherry wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Franco misses with an uppercut.
Cherry takes one to the chin there.
Cherry looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Franco works over Cherry's head and body with a nice combination.
Cherry keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Franco.
Franco misses with an uppercut
and Cherry counters with a straight right hand.
Cherry moves out of range as Franco throws a body kick.
Cherry is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Franco lands a nice shot to the body.
Franco misses with a wild body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cherry moves forwards but Franco connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Franco swats away the attempt to clinch by Cherry.
Franco lands a jab to the head.
Franco rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Cherry counters with a straight right hand.
Franco looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
As Franco looks to move away, Cherry throws a big counter combo but Franco just gets out of the way.
Franco throws an off balance right hand
and Cherry cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franco stuns Cherry with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Franco looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cherry uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Franco.
Franco throws a hook but Cherry avoids it easily.
Cherry is looking for a counter combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Franco. That snapped Cherry's head back.
Franco lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Franco misses with a body shot.
Cherry was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Franco moves into range and connects with a jab.
Franco throws a lazy uppercut
and Cherry counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Franco misses with a right hand
and Cherry counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Franco in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Franco throws out a loose jab but Cherry uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cherry is looking for a counter combo.
Franco throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Franco takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cherry moves out of range as Franco strikes.
Cherry is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco throws the left hand but Cherry avoids the punch easily.
Franco has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Franco scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cherry checks the leg kick.
Cherry is looking to counter punch.
Franco misses with a right hand
and Cherry counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Franco lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Cherry has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Cherry and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Cherry is looking for a counter combo.
Franco is looking to slow Cherry down with leg kicks.
Franco swings widly with a right hand
and Franco takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Franco misses with a hook to the body
and Cherry connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Franco throws an off balance right hand
and Cherry counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cherry is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Franco throws a hook but Cherry blocks it.
Cherry went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Juan David Franco seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cherry uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Franco.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco misses with a straight left.
Franco looks to throw a body kick
and Cherry counters with a straight right hand.
Franco ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cherry moves away.
An attempted straight right counter from Cherry misses the target.
Franco throws a right hand that misses
and Cherry counters with a stiff right hand.
Franky Cherry is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Franco swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Cherry cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cherry keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Franco.
Franco jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cherry throwing a counter right hand but Franco manages to avoid it.
Franco misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Cherry counters with a straight right hand.
Franco lands a nice looking body shot.
A low kick from Franco is predictable there
and Cherry cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Franco throws a head kick that misses
and Cherry counters with a series of strikes. Franco will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Franco misses with a lunging right hand
and Franco takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Franco misses with a straight right.
An attempted straight right counter from Cherry misses the target.
A slow jab from Franco misses its intended target.
Franco missing with a left hand there. Cherry was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Franco misses with a hook
and Cherry cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cherry checks a low kick from Franco.
Cherry appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Franco.
Franco swings and misses with a hook to the body.
As Franco looks to move away, Cherry throws a big counter combo but Franco just gets out of the way.
Cherry wants to clinch up but Franco keeps it at a distance.
A lazy left from Franco finds it's target.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Juan David Franco will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Franco comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Cherry gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Cherry takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Franco jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cherry is looking to counter punch.
Franco misses the jab.
An attempted straight right counter from Cherry misses the target.
Nice shot by Franco.
Franco misses with a hook. Cherry ducked under it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cherry takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Franco thows a leg kick but Cherry checks it
and Cherry counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Franco throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Cherry counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Franco misses its intended target.
Cherry slips a straight right by Franco.
Franco throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Cherry counters with a straight right hand.
Franco dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cherry moves out of range as Franco strikes.
It looked like Cherry was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Franco fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Cherry has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Franco throws a big shot that misses.
Franco feints and then cracks Cherry's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Cherry down.
Cherry wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco misses with a jab, cross combination.
It looked like Cherry was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Franco throws the left hand but Cherry avoids the punch easily.
It looked like Cherry wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Franco throws the left hand but Cherry avoids the punch easily.
Cherry fails in his attempt to clinch.
Franco misses with a jab to the body
and Cherry counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Franco looks to throw the jab but Cherry is out of range.
Cherry is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Cherry staying out of range there.
Cherry was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Juan David Franco is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Franco looks to land a right hand but Cherry moved out of range.
Cherry tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Franco throws the left hand but Cherry avoids the punch easily.
Cherry swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco throws a hook to the side of Cherry's head but Cherry sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cherry swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Franco throws a head kick that misses
and Cherry counters with a straight right hand.
Franco misses with a low kick.
Cherry is looking to counter punch.
Franco throws out a loose jab but Cherry uses good head movement to avoid it.
Franco throws a right hand that misses
and Cherry counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Franco has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
A jab from Franco finds it's way through Cherry's defenses.
Cherry uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Franco.
Cherry is looking to counter punch.
Franco is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cherry.
Cherry went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Franco misses with an uppercut. Cherry saw that one coming.
Franco swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cherry throws a big counter combination but Franco scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Franco throws out a loose jab but Cherry uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Franco connects with a body shot.
Franco tries to land a body kick
and Cherry counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Franco thinking.
Franco throws a body punch but Cherry moves out of range.
Cherry appears to be looking for a big counter.
Franco throws a low kick but it's checked well by Cherry.
Franco throws a poor cross that misses
letting Cherry counter with a right hand.
Cherry uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Franco.
Cherry is looking for a counter combo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Franco throws an off balance right hand
and Cherry counters with a nice uppercut.
Franco misses with a hook
and Franco takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Franky Cherry has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Franco misses with a leg kick
and Cherry counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juan David Franco comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Franco has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan David Franco!
Juan David Franco decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.