PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Fochi (ranked 1436 p4p, 3431 weight class) and Micah Frank (ranked 189 p4p, 427 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Fochi
vs
Frank

168 cm
23
182
7 - 4 - 1

182 cm
23
177
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Darvin Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Fochi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Micah Frank!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Alan Glass and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fochi lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
We've been hearing reports that Fochi has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Frank lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Fochi misses with a body shot.
It seemed like Frank was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Frank swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Fochi scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Frank throws a body punch but Fochi moves out of range.
Fochi lands a body shot.
Fochi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Fochi feinted with a counter takedown.
Fochi connects with the punch.
Fochi moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Frank misses with a few strikes there.
Fochi tries to bum rush Frank with a series of wild strikes but Frank uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Fochi throws a sloppy body shot
and Frank cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nice defenses there by Fochi.
Fochi drops down looking for a counter takedown but Frank sprawls and moves away.
Frank throws a sloppy head kick and Fochi moves out of range easily.
Frank lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fochi cracks Frank with a good jab.
Fochi smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Fochi fails to land with a series of punches.
Frank throws a counter combo.
Frank throws a hook but Fochi avoids it easily.
Fochi tries to counter with a takedown but Frank is quick to defend against it.
Fochi takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Michael Fochi has been cut.
Frank tries to land a body kick

and Fochi counters with a takedown into side control.

Fochi working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Frank prevents Fochi from improving position.
Fochi working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Frank is trying to improve his position.
Fochi is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Fochi tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fochi looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Fochi tries to move to mount but Frank blocks the move with his legs.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Frank can do anything to dispel that myth.

Fochi goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Frank rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Fochi's guard! Nice work there by Frank!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Frank sitting in guard here, content to control.
Frank really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Fochi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Fochi is trying to control the position but Frank postures up.

Frank got a little sloppy there for a moment and Fochi has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Frank has managed to get both his arms back between Fochi's legs - danger averted.
Fochi looking to control.
Frank won't allow Fochi to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Fochi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Frank slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Fochi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Michael Fochi's cut.
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.

Fochi throws a right hand that misses
and Frank counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Frank pivots, looking for a leg kick but Fochi is out of range and Frank settles back down.
Fochi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Michael Fochi is winning the standup battle so far.
Frank throws a head kick that misses.
The fighters circling - Frank throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Frank throws a good cross that connects.
Frank tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Fochi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fochi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Frank was well out of range. Poor timing from Fochi.
Frank throws a head kick that misses.
Fochi scores with a hook to the body. Frank takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Frank moves out of range as Fochi strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Frank tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Fochi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fochi throws a body shot but no joy.
Frank tries a head kick but it misses.
Frank tries a head kick but it misses.
Frank works over Fochi's head and body with a nice combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Frank avoids the body shot from Fochi.
Frank swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fochi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Fochi takes a swing at Frank's ribcage but misses.
Frank fails with an attempt to clinch.
Fochi takes one to the side of the head.
Fochi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Frank.
Frank throws a counter combo.
Fochi misses with a two punch combination.
Frank throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A shot to the liver by Frank. Beautiful body shot.
Frank throws a lazy head kick
and Fochi counters with a left and a right that stings Frank.
Fochi throws a body shot but no joy.

Fochi shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Frank is trying is best to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fochi passes to full mount!
Frank has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Fochi's lack of action.

Fochi is working for a kimura but Frank is defending it quite comfortably.
Fochi content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fochi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Fochi looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Fochi is trying to control. Frank wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Fochi is pressing down on Frank's thigh, looking to free his foot. Frank is holding on for now.
Well, if Fochi is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Frank tries to get to full guard but Fochi has control of the leg.

Frank is defending against the submission attempts here by Fochi.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Fochi dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Michael Fochi's cut.
That's time! Fochi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Fochi connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Frank misses the jab.
Fochi is looking to wear down Frank with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Frank misses with a jab, cross combination.

Fochi 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.
Fochi wants to control from the top but Frank keeps moving.

Fochi is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Frank is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Frank has escaped and now he's on top!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Frank wants to control from the top but Fochi keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fochi has an active guard here but Frank has managed to pass into half guard.
Fochi trying to control here.

Fochi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Fochi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Frank pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Fochi gets full guard.

Frank got a little sloppy there for a moment and Fochi has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Frank has managed to get both his arms back between Fochi's legs - danger averted.
Frank preventing the sweep.
Fochi trying to control the position.

Fochi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Fochi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Frank is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fochi is trying to control the position but Frank postures up.

Fochi working for submissions but it's allowed Frank to get to half guard.
Fochi tries to roll over but Frank keeps him under control.
Micah Frank has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Fochi slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Fochi wants to improve his position but instead Frank has moved into half guard.
Frank is trying to control the action in half guard but Fochi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fochi moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Frank throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fochi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Michael Fochi.
Well Fochi has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Fochi!