PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Francis Franko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kuma Shiroma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Franko
vs
Shiroma

192 cm
21
238 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

193 cm
26
254 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Knockout power

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Francis Franko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kuma Shiroma!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Taro Takaoka and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franko fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Shiroma avoids it really well and circles away.
Franko lands with a slapping head kick.
Shiroma is looking to clinch.

Shiroma clinches with his opponent.
Shiroma misses with a knee strike.
Franko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shiroma misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Franko.
Franko can't break the clinch.
Shiroma tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Shiroma stops a takedown attempt from Franko.
Shiroma unloads a knee to the mid-section. Franko lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A bit of stalling here from Shiroma.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shiroma tries to land knees in the clinch but Franko avoids the damage to the body.
Franko tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Francis Franko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shiroma tries to land knees in the clinch but Franko avoids the damage to the body.
Shiroma is pressed up against the ropes. Franko has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Shiroma down to the mat. Shiroma avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Franko keeps the fight on the outside.
Franko looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Franko is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Shiroma gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Shiroma is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Franko is defending well for now.
Franko is trying to drag Shiroma to the mat but Shiroma just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
Shiroma lands a good knee to the midsection. Franko won't want to take too many of those.
Franko is breathing heavily.
Shiroma scores with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franko avoiding damage as Shiroma throws knees to the body.
Shiroma trying to land knees to the body.
Shiroma trying to land knees to the body.
Shiroma tries to land knees in the clinch but Franko avoids the damage to the body.
Franko misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Franko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Franko has Shiroma pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Shiroma manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Franko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Franko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kuma Shiroma is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shiroma takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Franko changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shiroma tries to avoid it but Franko manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shiroma to the ground. Shiroma escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Shiroma doesn't manage to clinch there - Franko circles away.
Shiroma throws the kick towards the body but Franko avoids it.

Shiroma gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shiroma is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Shiroma stalling the fight.
Shiroma tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Franko is trying to break free.
Franko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Shiroma with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Shiroma is pressed up against the ropes. Franko has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Shiroma down to the mat. Shiroma avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Shiroma tries to clinch but Franko is having none of it.
Franko avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Franko shoots for a takedown but Shiroma saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Franko shoots in looking for a takedown but Shiroma manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Franko's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Shiroma.
Franko circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Franko clinches.
Franko using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shiroma has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Franko is working for takedown but Shiroma is calmly controlling the position for now.
Shiroma scores a nice knee to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shiroma utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Franko avoiding damage as Shiroma throws knees to the body.
Shiroma taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Franko is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Shiroma gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Shiroma missing with knees to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shiroma pressing his opponent against the ropes.
Franko avoiding damage as Shiroma throws knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Franko shoots in and drives through. Shiroma sprawls well.

Shiroma clinches with his opponent.
Franko is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the ropes enables Shiroma to keep the fight standing.
Franko has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Shiroma is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Franko is defending well for now.
Shiroma is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Franko is defending well for now.
Shiroma is looking to control Franko's arms but Franko gets an underhook and turns him. Now Shiroma has his back to the ropes.
Shiroma tries to land knees in the clinch but Franko avoids the damage to the body.
Shiroma unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Shiroma with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Franko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Franko blocks a head kick by Shiroma.
Shiroma has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shiroma tries to close the distance and clinch up but Franko swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shiroma tries to close the distance and clinch up but Franko swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shiroma avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shiroma throws a head kick but Franko moves out of range.

Shiroma instigates a clinch.
Shiroma misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Franko.
Shiroma misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Franko.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shiroma obliges.
Shiroma misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Franko.
Shiroma trying to land knees to the body.
Shiroma blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Franko is looking to control Shiroma's arms but Shiroma gets an underhook and turns him. Now Franko has his back to the ropes.
Kuma Shiroma seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Shiroma tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Franko avoids it.
Shiroma trying to land knees to the body.
Shiroma landing knees to the head.
Franko managing to block the knees to the body from Shiroma.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Shiroma trying to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shiroma lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Franko tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Shiroma smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Francis Franko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shiroma tries to clinch but Franko moves out of range.
Shiroma tries to clinch there but Franko circles away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Shiroma has taken the fight to the clinch.
Franko is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Shiroma tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Franko avoids it.
Franko with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Shiroma scores a nice knee to the body.
Shiroma with a knee to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shiroma obliges.
Shiroma leaning his opponent against the ropes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franko tries to pull guard but Shiroma forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.
Shiroma scores a nice knee to the body.
Shiroma throws a knee to the head but misses.
Franko is trying to pull guard but Shiroma turns him against the ropes and we stay in the clinch.
Shiroma using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Shiroma connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Francis Franko has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shiroma is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Shiroma throws a knee to the head but misses.
Shiroma tries to land a knee to the head but Franko blocks with his arms.
Franko tries to pull guard but Shiroma holds him up against the ropes and eventually Franko drops back down to his feet.
Shiroma misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Franko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shiroma with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Shiroma stops a takedown attempt from Franko.
Shiroma misses with a knee to the head.
Franko throws a knee to the head but misses.
Knees in the clinch landing for Shiroma.
Franko tries to circle away but Shiroma has him pinned against the ropes.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shiroma obliges.
Shiroma stalling in the clinch.
Franko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Franko letting Shiroma take a breather here.
Shiroma keeps control of Franko as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kuma Shiroma showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Francis Franko's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Shiroma rushes Franko and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Franko tries to pull guard but Shiroma forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Franko has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Shiroma uses from the top position.
Franko wants to sweep here but Shiroma controlling him for the moment.
Shiroma tries to stand but Franko is controlling from the bottom.

Franko is looking for a triangle but Shiroma pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franko is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Shiroma is aware though and is defending well.
Shiroma wants to get up but he can't break Franko's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Shiroma tries to free his leg and advance position but Franko is retaining full guard.
Franko is trying to keep Shiroma in close.
Franko is really struggling to control Shiroma but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franko trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

We're going to have a standup here because Francis Franko wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Franko circles away from the clinch attempt.
Shiroma wants to clinch up but Franko keeps it at a distance.

Shiroma has taken the fight to the clinch.
Shiroma misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Franko.
Franko being controlled against the ropes.
Franko tries to break free but Shiroma pushes him back against the ropes.
Shiroma trying to land knees to the body.
Franko tries for a takedown but Shiroma manages to get underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shiroma is trying to maintain a safe position but Franko gets an underhook and turns Shiroma into the ropes.
Shiroma trying to land knees to the body.
Franko avoiding damage as Shiroma throws knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Shiroma tries a knee to the head but Franko blocks it.

Franko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Franko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Shiroma paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shiroma throws a push kick but Franko slaps the foot to one side.
Francis Franko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shiroma tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Franko manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Shiroma tries to clinch but Franko moves out of range.
Franko closes this distance looking for a takedown but Shiroma circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Francis Franko. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Shiroma has closed the distance and engaged Franko in a clinch.
Shiroma tries to land knees in the clinch but Franko avoids the damage to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shiroma looking to stall.
Franko takes a knee right on the jaw!
Shiroma blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Franko has had enough of the clinch but Shiroma keeps him there for the moment.
Shiroma stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Shiroma misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Franko.
Shiroma tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Franko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Franko is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Franko is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Francis Franko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A short uppercut from Franko.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kuma Shiroma.
I've got Shiroma winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight for Kuma Shiroma!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Kuma Shiroma!
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for Kuma Shiroma!

Kuma Shiroma wins by unanimous decision!