PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Walet Franks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damien Stewart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Franks
vs
Stewart

170 cm
30
142 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

172 cm
27
123 lbs
11 - 5 - 1

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Walet Franks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Damien Stewart!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stewart drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Stewart trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Franks scrambles and gets back to his feet.
A punch combination from Stewart misses.
Stewart misses the shot to the body.
Stewart tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Franks counters with a right hand to the body.
Stewart tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Franks swivels and escapes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Franks. Stewart does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stewart keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Stewart tries to close the distance and clinch but Franks swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Franks scores with a shot to the body.
Danga de danga de dang - Stewart scores with a four punch combination!
Franks throws a big shot that misses.
A slow jab from Franks misses its intended target.
Franks swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Franks misses with a double jab
and Stewart counters with a nice uppercut.
Stewart slips under a jab from Franks.
Stewart scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Franks looks to score with a jab to the body but Stewart is just out of range.
Stewart takes a jab right on the kisser.
Franks throws out a loose jab but Stewart uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Stewart.
Franks dodges the punch combination from Stewart.
Franks is looking to wear down Stewart with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Stewart fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Franks looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Stewart throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Stewart moves in looking to clinch but Franks pushes him off.

Stewart closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Franks to the mat! Franks manages to get full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Franks has a closed guard, preventing Stewart from standing up.

Franks pushes Stewart off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franks rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stewart moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Stewart throws a right and a left that both miss.
Franks misses with a wild body shot.
Franks avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stewart lands a head shot.
Walet Franks is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Franks ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stewart moves away.
Stewart avoids the body shot from Franks.
Stewart tries to close the distance and clinch up but Franks swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stewart tries to clinch but Franks moves out of range.
Franks throws a right and a left that Stewart avoids nicely.
Franks thows a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franks misses with an uppercut
and Stewart counters with a straight right hand.
Franks lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stewart circles away quickly and effectively.
A right-left combo lands from Stewart.
Stewart takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Franks swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Stewart tries to clinch but Franks moves out of range.
Franks tries to bum rush Stewart with a series of wild strikes but Stewart uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Franks throws a lazy uppercut
and Stewart counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Stewart tries to clinch but Franks moves out of range.
Stewart swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Franks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Stewart fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Franks, pushing him back against the cage.
Stewart keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Franks's efforts to push away.

Stewart breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damien Stewart dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Stewart fails with an attempt to clinch.
A combination from Stewart does no damage.
Stewart connects with the punch.
Stewart is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Franks just misses with a punch to the body.
Franks looks to land a combination. Stewart sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
A looping hook to the body misses from Franks. Stewart does a little dance to reset his feet.
Franks misses with a body shot.

Franks tries to keep at a distance but Stewart has taken the fight into the clinch.
I was talking to Franks's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Franks keeps control of Stewart as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Stewart pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Good exchange - Stewart coming out on top.

Stewart closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stewart lands in his opponent's guard.

Stewart gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stewart throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Stewart lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Franks backs up against the cage.
Stewart has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.

Stewart darts in and clinches Franks up against the cage.
Stewart looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Stewart breaks from the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Franks. Those never looked like landing.
Franks scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A combination from Franks does no damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stewart slips under a jab from Franks.
Stewart fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stewart throws a right hand that Franks ducks under and follows up with a left that Franks also avoids with ease.
Stewart lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Stewart has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Stewart there as he acknowledges the shot.
Stewart tries to clinch up.
Franks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stewart wants to clinch up but Franks keeps it at a distance.
Stewart displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Stewart lands a nice shot that snaps Franks's head back.
Stewart cracks Franks with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Walet Franks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Franks throws a big shot that misses.
Stewart pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Franks back to the cage. Stewart follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stewart tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Franks throws a body punch but Stewart moves out of range.
Stewart looks to land a combination. Franks sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Franks throws a series of punches but Stewart avoids them all with ease.
A left and a right from Stewart both land. Nice combination.
Franks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Franks tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stewart was well out of range. Poor timing from Franks.
Franks misses with a few strikes there.
Franks throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Stewart.
Stewart swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Franks.
Franks misses the shot to the body.
Stewart uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Franks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franks thows a body shot but no joy.
Franks throws a jab when Stewart was well out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stewart scores with a nice strike.
Stewart tries to close the distance and clinch up but Franks swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Horrible takedown by Stewart or perhaps it was just good defense by Franks which made him look bad.
Franks misses with a hook.
Stewart closes the distance but Franks moves to the side
enabling Franks to counter with a crisp jab.

Stewart instigates a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Franks breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stewart swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Franks misses with a two punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damien Stewart showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Franks throws a lazy uppercut
and Stewart counters with a two punch combo.
Stewart doesn't manage to clinch there - Franks circles away.
Stewart throws a right hand that Franks ducks under and follows up with a left that Franks also avoids with ease.
Franks punishes Stewart's body with a nice straight punch.
Stewart swinging wildly here.
Franks misses with a two punch combination.
Franks takes one on the button.
Franks looks to throw the jab but Stewart is out of range.
Stewart connects with a crisp jab.
Stewart slips a jab from Franks.
Stewart misses with a jab, cross combination.
Stewart wants to clinch up but Franks keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franks swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Stewart moves in looking to clinch but Franks pushes him off.
Stewart shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Franks sprawls well. Franks wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stewart gets slowly back to his feet.
Damien Stewart seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Stewart misses the shot to the body.
Stewart throws a left and a right that both miss
and Franks counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Franks lands a jab to the nose.
Franks misses with a body shot.
Stewart ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Franks throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Franks fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Stewart misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stewart throws a series of punches but Franks avoids them all with ease.
Franks misses with a series of wild punches.

Stewart clinches.
Stewart is trying to push Franks away but Franks has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Franks manages to break the clinch.
Franks misses the body punch
and Stewart counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Franks looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
A punch combination from Stewart misses.
Franks on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Stewart tries to close the distance and clinch but Franks swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stewart tries to clinch up but Franks circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Franks throws a predictable looking body shot
and Stewart counters with a nice body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stewart doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Stewart throws a one two combo.
Stewart tries to clinch up but Franks circles away and keeps his distance.
Stewart throws a right hand that Franks ducks under and follows up with a left that Franks also avoids with ease.
Stewart avoids a punch combination nicely.
Franks has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Stewart defending well as Franks loads up on a big left hand.
Franks misses with a wild body shot.
Stewart closes the distance but Franks moves to the side
and Franks counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Stewart thinking.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Franks takes a swing at Stewart's ribcage but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stewart closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stewart lands in his opponent's guard.
Franks wants to get back to his feet but Stewart is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Stewart stands and steps away. Franks gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Franks misses with an uppercut.
Stewart avoids a punch combination nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damien Stewart really dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Franks throws a body punch but Stewart moves out of range.
Franks throws a big shot that misses.
Franks throws a poor cross that misses
and Stewart connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Stewart looks to land a combination but Franks avoids it well.
Stewart walks into a jab.
Stewart keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Franks.
Franks fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Stewart looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Stewart tries to clinch but Franks moves away
and Stewart takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Franks takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Franks scores with a sloppy right hand. Stewart should have avoided that one.
Franks throws a nice looking combination but Stewart bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Some wild striking there from Stewart.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franks misses with a series of wild punches.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
A looping hook to the body misses from Franks. Stewart does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stewart tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Franks manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Stewart punishes Franks's body with a nice straight punch.
Franks scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Stewart shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Franks defends it nicely.
Stewart tries to close the distance and clinch up but Franks swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stewart lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Stewart.
Stewart throws a right hand that Franks ducks under and follows up with a left that Franks also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franks misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stewart.
Stewart throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Franks.
Stewart tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Franks manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Stewart uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Franks.
Stewart tries to close the distance and clinch up but Franks swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stewart misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Franks.
Franks fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Franks throws a right and a left that Stewart avoids nicely.
Stewart misses with a wild combination.
Franks lands a jab to the head.
Stewart takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franks throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Franks lands a lovely overhand right.
Franks looks to land a combination but Stewart avoids it well.
Stewart tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Franks counters with a series of strikes. Stewart will be more careful next time no doubt.
A big left from Franks misses.

Franks gets tackled into the cage by Stewart. Stewart maintains the clinch.

Franks escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Franks pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Stewart doesn't manage to clinch there - Franks circles away.
Franks lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stewart circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franks fails to land with a series of punches.
Stewart throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Stewart misses with a series of wild punches.
Stewart misses with a wild combination.
Franks dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Stewart tries to close the distance and clinch up but Franks swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stewart moves out of range of the strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stewart uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Franks.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stewart looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Franks throws a predictable looking body shot
and Stewart connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Walet Franks will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Stewart moves away from the strike by Franks.
Stewart moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Franks throws a looping overhand right but Stewart ducks down to avoid it.
Stewart fails with a takedown attempt.
Franks looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Nice cross by Stewart.
Franks closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Franks throws a series of punches but Stewart avoids them all with ease.
Franks misses with a two punch combination.
Stewart tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Franks paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stewart doesn't manage to clinch there - Franks circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franks looks to score with a jab to the body but Stewart is just out of range.
Stewart cracks Franks with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Franks showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stewart.
Franks misses with a wild body shot.
Franks moves forwards but Stewart connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Stewart throws a series of punches but Franks avoids them all with ease.
Franks takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Franks throws a lazy right hand but Stewart sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Stewart throws a nice looking combination but Franks bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Stewart ducks under a wild hook from Franks.
Franks misses with a straight right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stewart moves in looking to clinch but Franks pushes him off.
Franks throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Stewart punishes Franks's body with a nice straight punch.
A punch combination from Stewart misses.
Stewart tries to score a power double leg takedown but Franks sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Stewart somewhat.
Stewart takes a jab right on the kisser.
Nice body punch from Franks.
Stewart looks to land a combination. Franks sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Stewart has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franks dodges the punch combination from Stewart.
Franks throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Stewart counters with a two punch combo.
Franks swats away the attempt to clinch by Stewart.
Stewart tries to clinch up but Franks circles away and keeps his distance.
A big left from Franks misses.
Franks misses with a body shot.
Stewart dives in for a single leg takedown but Franks sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Walet Franks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damien Stewart.
Stewart keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Franks's efforts to push away.

Stewart breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Franks swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stewart misses with a wild body shot.
Franks misses with a double jab.
Stewart lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Franks at a distance.
Stewart uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Franks.
Stewart throws a series of punches but Franks avoids them all with ease.
Stewart feints a jab promting Franks to slip. Stewart then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Franks slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Franks swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Franks lands a nice shot to the body.
Good exchange - Franks coming out on top.
Franks thows a body shot but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Damien Stewart.
Well Stewart 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Damien Stewart!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Damien Stewart!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Damien Stewart!

Damien Stewart wins by unanimous decision!
Damien Stewart thanked the fans post fight for their support.