PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Serge Ibaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Franks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ibaka
vs
Franks

170 cm
25
143 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

165 cm
25
133 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
KO power

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Serge Ibaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tom Franks!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Peter Branson and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franks throws a left and a right that both miss

and Ibaka counters by moving into the clinch.
Ibaka is leaning against Franks and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Franks has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ibaka after a bit of a struggle.
Ibaka lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Franks.
Ibaka controlling the action here for a moment.
A short left from Ibaka.
Ibaka tries to throw a body punch but Franks avoids it by throwing Ibaka back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ibaka lands with a short shot to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ibaka.
Franks looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
A short right from Ibaka on the inside.
Ibaka struggles to land a body shot inside as Franks controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Ibaka scores with a nice short uppercut.
Franks is trying to drag Ibaka to the mat but Ibaka just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Ibaka scores with a nice hook to the head.
Franks blocks a body shot from Ibaka.
Franks is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ibaka pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Serge Ibaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Franks.
Ibaka scores with a hook to the body.
Ibaka lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Ibaka can't find room to land a body shot as Franks controls the action.
A right handed body shot lands from Ibaka.
Ibaka taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Franks has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ibaka after a bit of a struggle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franks goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ibaka prevents it.
Ibaka works on Franks's body with a couple of short punches.
Ibaka stalling in the clinch.
Franks has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ibaka avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Ibaka scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ibaka tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Franks's elbow.
Franks wants a takedown but no success here.
Ibaka scores with a hook to the body.
A right hand to the body from Ibaka.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A right hook to the body lands for Ibaka.
Ibaka works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ibaka misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ibaka lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ibaka lands with a short shot to the head.
Ibaka tries to work over Franks's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ibaka.
Ibaka is working Franks over against the cage.
Franks is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ibaka is defending well.
Good body shot from Ibaka.
Stalling in the clinch from Ibaka.
A right handed body shot lands from Ibaka.
Ibaka lands a right hand.
A right hook to the body lands for Ibaka.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ibaka lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Franks backwards.
Ibaka taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Ibaka tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Franks's elbow.
Franks wants a takedown.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ibaka.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ibaka misses with a punch to the body.
Ibaka tries to work over Franks's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ibaka can't find room to land a body shot as Franks controls the action.
Ibaka taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Ibaka seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Ibaka lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Serge Ibaka dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ibaka uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Franks.
Ibaka 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.
Franks will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ibaka tries to clinch up.
A shot to the liver by Franks. Beautiful body shot.

Ibaka drives through and clinches with Franks against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Ibaka.
Ibaka misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ibaka makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ibaka tries to work over Franks's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ibaka lands a right hand that snaps the head of Franks backwards.
Ibaka misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ibaka lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Ibaka on the inside.
Ibaka misses with a body punch.
Ibaka misses with a punch to the body.
Ibaka working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Ibaka is pushing Franks up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ibaka.
Ibaka pushes Franks back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ibaka.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ibaka.
Ibaka misses with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ibaka goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A right handed body shot lands from Ibaka.
Ibaka lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Franks is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ibaka pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ibaka cracks Franks with a nice body shot.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ibaka creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ibaka.
Ibaka can't find room to land a body shot as Franks controls the action.
Ibaka lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Nice body punch from Ibaka.
Franks has Ibaka pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ibaka manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Ibaka lands a body shot.
Franks is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franks goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ibaka prevents it.
Serge Ibaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Franks.
Ibaka lands a right hand that snaps the head of Franks backwards.
Ibaka doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ibaka is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Franks can do to turn this around?
Ibaka gets through Franks's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ibaka doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Franks drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ibaka pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ibaka lands a jab.

Franks gets tackled into the cage by Ibaka. Ibaka maintains the clinch.
Ibaka misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Ibaka is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Franks is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ibaka pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ibaka gets through Franks's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ibaka lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ibaka tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Franks's elbow.
Ibaka misses with a body punch.
Ibaka lands with a right to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ibaka lands a left hand that snaps the head of Franks backwards.
A hook to the body from Ibaka.
Franks takes a shot to the head.
Ibaka lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Serge Ibaka dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Ibaka misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ibaka tries to clinch up but Franks circles away and keeps his distance.
Ibaka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Franks misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Tom Franks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ibaka uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Franks.
Franks throws a right and a left that Ibaka avoids nicely.

Ibaka has closed the distance and engaged Franks in a clinch.
Ibaka tries a body shot but Franks blocks it.
Ibaka gets underhooks to prevent Franks's takedown attempt.
Franks blocks a body shot from Ibaka.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ibaka scores with a nice hook to the head.
Ibaka misses with a body punch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ibaka.
Ibaka pushes Franks back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibaka scores with a shot to the side of Franks's head.
Ibaka lands with a light punch inside.

Franks is rocked!
Franks changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ibaka fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Franks is still on wobbly legs! Can Ibaka finish him?
Ibaka tries to clinch up but Franks circles away and keeps his distance.
Ibaka takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Franks seems to have recovered his senses.

Ibaka gets a clinch.
Ibaka goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ibaka goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Franks changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ibaka fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Serge Ibaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Franks.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ibaka tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Franks's elbow.
Franks is trying to drag Ibaka to the mat but Ibaka just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ibaka.
Ibaka tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Franks's elbow.
Franks has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ibaka after a bit of a struggle.
Ibaka lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ibaka lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ibaka lands a shot to the body.
Franks takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A hook to the body from Ibaka.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Ibaka.
Ibaka goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nice body punch from Ibaka.
Ibaka is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Serge Ibaka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ibaka lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Franks backwards.
Ibaka lands a left hand.
Ibaka lands a nice shot to the body.
Ibaka scores with a shot to the side of Franks's head.
Ibaka slowing the pace effectively.
Tom Franks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ibaka prevents the takedown attempt.
Franks can't get the takedown.
A short body shot lands from Ibaka as the two fighters clinch.
Ibaka lands a right hand.
Franks can't get the takedown.
Ibaka lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ibaka doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ibaka.
Ibaka misses with a punch to the body.
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!
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ibaka.

And that's the end of the fight!
Serge Ibaka showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ibaka, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:26
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:25
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:25

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