PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sittichai Poontharat (ranked 2887 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pedro Franco (ranked 6736 p4p, 0 weight class). Pedro Franco has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Poontharat
vs
Franco

175 cm
20
145 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

180 cm
33
145 lbs
8 - 14 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sittichai Poontharat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Pedro Franco!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Eddie Farnsworth and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franco ducks under a wild hook from Poontharat.
Franco looks to clinch
and Poontharat counters with a straight right hand.
Franco has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Franco changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Poontharat tries to avoid it but Franco manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Poontharat to the ground. Poontharat escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Franco wants to clinch
and Poontharat connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Franco clinches up against the cage.

Poontharat breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Franco tries for a takedown but Poontharat circles away easily
and Poontharat counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poontharat looks to throw the jab but Franco is out of range.
Poontharat works Franco's body with a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Poontharat but Poontharat pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sittichai Poontharat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pedro Franco.

Poontharat tries to keep at a distance but Franco has taken the fight into the clinch.
Poontharat trying to control the position but instead, Franco has worked for underhooks and has pushed Poontharat into the cage.

Poontharat escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Franco gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Poontharat connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Franco moves into the clinch.
Poontharat on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco tries to score a body lock takedown but Poontharat shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Poontharat looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Franco has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Poontharat uses from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Poontharat wants to stand but Franco has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Franco is trying to keep Poontharat in close.
Franco throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Franco punching from the bottom - just letting Poontharat know he's still in a fight.
Franco striking off his back but it's not causing Poontharat any problems.

Franco looking for a triangle here. Poontharat is fighting it but it looks tight! Franco pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Poontharat is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:50 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Pedro Franco!
Pedro Franco very nearly forgot to thank King of Clothes amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.