PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bryson Franklin (ranked 4003 p4p, 4020 weight class) and Liam Blevins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Franklin
vs
Blevins

192 cm
18
265
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
265
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 Los Angeles, Bryson Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Liam Blevins!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Percy O'Donnell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Franklin.
Franklin could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Franklin looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Blevins is looking to reverse the position.
Blevins struggling a bit here.
Franklin tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Blevins is looking to reverse the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blevins is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Franklin off and has taken his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blevins gets his hands free as Franklin looks to control.

Blevins has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
I really don't envy Franklin right now.
Franklin tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Blevins wants to control the pace but Franklin is squirming around nicely.
Franklin slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blevins is stalling here. Franklin is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Blevins seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Franklin has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Franklin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Franklin swings around for an armbar but Blevins sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Franklin's guard.
Franklin is pulling down on Blevins's head. It's preventing any offense from Blevins, at least for the moment.
Blevins trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Franklin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Franklin looking for a sweep. Not yet Franklin, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Blevins looking to pass the guard.
Franklin seems keen to control Blevins's posture.
Franklin is trying to keep Blevins in close.
Franklin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Blevins manages to get himself to full guard.

Franklin's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Blevins trying to keep a closed guard but Franklin is proving a slippery customer.

Franklin drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Blevins manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Franklin has Blevins in his guard.

Franklin looking to control but Blevins passes into half guard.
Blevins seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Franklin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Franklin won't allow Blevins to pass to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franklin wants to control but Blevins is keeping busy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bryson Franklin will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Franklin closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Franklin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Blevins sees it coming and defends easily.
Blevins is trying to control but can't.
Blevins is looking for a sweep. Franklin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Franklin wants to control but Blevins is keeping him busy.

Blevins looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Blevins manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Blevins looking to hit a scissor sweep but Franklin is one step ahead there.
Franklin trying to control the position from guard on top but Blevins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin preventing the sweep.
Franklin sitting in guard here, content to control.
Franklin wants to control from the top but Blevins keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Franklin bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Blevins can't do much from the bottom here.
Franklin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Blevins can do to turn this around?
Blevins tries to buck Franklin off but Franklin is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blevins wants to control but Franklin postures up.
Blevins regains half guard.
Blevins tries to get to full guard but Franklin has control of the leg.

Franklin is trying to work for a kimura but Blevins is defending well.
Blevins is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blevins gets full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Blevins is on top in guard.

Blevins trying to control the position from guard on top but Franklin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Franklin is trying to control the position but Blevins postures up.
Franklin is controlling Blevins's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blevins sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Franklin's guard.
Blevins works his way into full mount!
Franklin keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Franklin slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Franklin wants to control but Blevins is keeping busy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Bryson Franklin will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Blevins dives in and scores a takedown into Franklin's guard.

Franklin has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Blevins can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Blevins stopping the sweep attempt from Franklin.
Franklin looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franklin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Franklin can't keep his opponent in guard - Blevins advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Blevins is working away from the top position though.
Blevins is keen to just control but Franklin is a slippery customer.
Franklin moves into full guard.
Franklin wants to control the position but Blevins says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Blevins frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Franklin is squirming around, avoiding Blevins's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blevins pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Franklin is in all sorts of trouble here.
Franklin tries to improve his position but instead Blevins has taken his back!
Franklin tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Franklin is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Blevins wants to control the pace but Franklin is squirming around nicely.
Blevins controlling the pace for now.

Blevins is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Franklin to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Franklin shrugs it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blevins trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Franklin tries to hold on but Blevins pushes him away.
Franklin is wriggling around trying to escape.
Liam Blevins has got the better of the ground game so far.

Blevins is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Franklin can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Franklin really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Franklin wants to control but Blevins is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Franklin tries to reverse the position but Blevins maintains control.
Liam Blevins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bryson Franklin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Franklin tries to control the position but Blevins now has his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Liam Blevins comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Franklin has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a majority draw!