PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Franko Begbie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Whitehead (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Begbie kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Lonely Island - Jizz in My Pants. Craig Whitehead will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Begbie
vs
Whitehead

165 cm
23
156 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
27
163 lbs
18 - 13 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Franko Begbie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Craig Whitehead!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Ackerman and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Whitehead throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Whitehead lands a head kick!
Whitehead throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Begbie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Whitehead moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Whitehead tries a head kick but it misses.
Whitehead swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Begbie uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Whitehead.
Whitehead misses with a head kick.
Whitehead throws a head kick that half lands.
Begbie dips to his left and cracks Whitehead with an uppercut!
Begbie ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Whitehead takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Whitehead feints a jab promting Begbie to slip. Whitehead then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Begbie slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Begbie throws a head kick that misses.
Begbie fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Whitehead avoids it really well and circles away.
Begbie blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Begbie lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Whitehead misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Begbie.
Whitehead takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Whitehead tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Begbie feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Begbie with a flurry of punches that miss.
Whitehead keeping moving, preventing Begbie from controlling successfully.
Whitehead utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Whitehead throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Begbie trying to control the position from guard on top but Whitehead is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Begbie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Whitehead looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Whitehead keeping full guard, as Begbie tries to pass.
Whitehead keeping moving, preventing Begbie from controlling successfully.

Begbie postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Whitehead is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Begbie, into his guard.
Whitehead throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Begbie works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Whitehead is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Begbie is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Begbie has escaped and now he's on top!
Begbie throwing strikes from guard but Whitehead blocks nicely.

Whitehead has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Begbie can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Whitehead wants to sweep but no luck.
Begbie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Whitehead swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Begbie trying to control but Whitehead is working from the bottom.

Whitehead is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Begbie drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Whitehead dives on top into guard.
Whitehead missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Whitehead working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Whitehead is posturing up here but Begbie has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Whitehead tries to roll out but it's too tight and Whitehead has to tap! Slick submission there by Begbie!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Franko Begbie!
An out of breath Franko Begbie thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.