PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Irno Frank (ranked 6438 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Bastardo (ranked 8154 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Frank
vs
Bastardo

192 cm
25
231 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

220 cm
25
230 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Irno Frank!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jose Bastardo!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Bart Greer and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Frank misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Despite the aggression on Bastardo's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Bastardo has managed to clinch.
Frank lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Jose Bastardo has been cut.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Bastardo looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Frank breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Frank fails with a takedown attempt.
Bastardo unleashes a big counter combination but Frank bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
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. Bastardo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
As Frank backs off Bastardo throws a huge counter combo but Frank manages to avoid it all.
Frank avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bastardo avoids the body shot from Frank.

Bastardo tries to keep at a distance but Frank has taken the fight into the clinch.
Frank is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Bastardo to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Irno Frank. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Frank breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Frank closes the distance and pushes Bastardo back into the cage.

Frank breaks from the clinch.
Frank tries to bum rush Bastardo with a series of wild strikes but Bastardo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Frank swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bastardo throws an elbow but it misses.
Bastardo tries to break the clinch but Frank is controlling the position.
Frank is trying to pull guard but Bastardo has him pressed against the cage.
Bastardo throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Frank breaks the clinch.
Bastardo is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
A head kick misses from Frank.
Despite the aggression on Bastardo's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Bastardo throws a one two combo.
Frank circles away from the clinch attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bastardo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Frank moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Frank clinches.

Frank breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jose Bastardo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Frank changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bastardo tries to avoid it but Frank manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bastardo to the ground. Bastardo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Frank fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bastardo, pushing him back against the cage.

Frank manages to pull guard.

Frank has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Bastardo has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Bastardo looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Frank dodges an elbow strike from Bastardo.
Frank tries to pull guard but Bastardo forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Bastardo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bastardo misses with an elbow strike.
Frank is trying to drag Bastardo to the mat but Bastardo just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Frank pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Frank closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bastardo circles away.

Bastardo tries to keep at a distance but Frank has taken the fight into the clinch.
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!
Frank misses with a short punch on the inside.
Frank drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Irno Frank dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jose Bastardo'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.

Frank gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Frank wants a takedown but no success here.
Frank is trying to break the clinch but Bastardo has him pressed against the cage.
Frank is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Bastardo avoiding damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Frank blocks an elbow strike from Bastardo.

Frank pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Frank fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Irno Frank. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Frank looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bastardo is fending him off so far but Frank persists. Nope, Bastardo circles away and we're back to standing.
Bastardo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Frank swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Frank tries to keep at a distance but Bastardo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Bastardo lands an elbow just above Frank 's eye.

It looks like Irno Frank has been cut.
Frank working hard to break the clinch.
Frank has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Bastardo after a bit of a struggle.
Bastardo creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Frank tries for a takedown. No joy.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Bastardo just misses with a elbow thrown towards Frank's brow.

Frank breaks the clinch.
Bastardo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Frank fails with the takedown.

Bastardo has Frank up against the cage in a clinch.
Bastardo misses with an elbow over the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bastardo struggles to land a body shot inside as Frank controls his hands.
Bastardo is trying to force a seperation but Frank has the dominant position.
Frank jumps guard but Bastardo stands there with Frank around his waist. Frank gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Frank fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Frank breaks from the clinch.
Bastardo is looking to clinch but Frank is avoiding it.
Irno Frank seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Frank shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bastardo counters with a three punch combo that has Frank backing up. Frank nods at Bastardo to acknowledge the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bastardo clinches.
Bastardo lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Frank or not.
Frank using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Bastardo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Bastardo creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Frank creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Bastardo's defenses.
Frank blocks an elbow strike.
Jose Bastardo seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Frank breaks the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Bastardo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Frank dodges an elbow strike from Bastardo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Bastardo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Bastardo lands a head kick. Frank smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Bastardo moves in looking to clinch but Frank pushes him off.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Frank!
Bastardo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Irno Frank is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice takedown defense from Bastardo. No joy for Frank on that attempt.
Bastardo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Frank.
Frank fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Frank shoots in and drives through. Bastardo sprawls well.
Despite the aggression on Bastardo's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Irno Frank. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bastardo has managed to clinch.
Bastardo lands an elbow inside that Frank shrugs off.
Bastardo just leaning against Frank, taking a breather.
Bastardo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Frank's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Bastardo displaying some good clinch control by pressing Frank up against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Frank.
Frank is working for takedown but Bastardo is calmly controlling the position for now.
Frank drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bastardo pulls his leg out and moves away.
Frank shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bastardo pinned against the cage. Bastardo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Frank.
Bastardo throws a counter combo.
Frank darts in looking for a takedown but Bastardo gets double underhooks and turns Frank into the cage.
Despite the aggression on Bastardo's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Frank wants to clinch but Bastardo slips to the side
and Bastardo counters with a left and a right that stings Frank.
Frank fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
As Frank backs off Bastardo throws a huge counter combo but Frank manages to avoid it all.
Bastardo tries to clinch up.
Bastardo jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Bastardo tries to clinch up but Frank circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bastardo stuffs the takedown.
Frank swats away the attempt to clinch by Bastardo.
Bastardo scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Bastardo has managed to clinch.
Frank is struggling to control the position.
Come on Frank - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Frank wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bastardo has him pressed against the cage.
Frank keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bastardo's efforts to push away.
Frank tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Frank breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Frank displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bastardo tries to clinch up.
Frank with a poor takedown
and Bastardo counters with a one-two to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Bastardo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bastardo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Bastardo!
A very excited looking Jose Bastardo made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.