PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rade Franjic (ranked 1778 p4p, 3317 weight class) and Ryan Locke (ranked 218 p4p, 396 weight class). Locke has chosen JPEGMAFIA - BMT as his entrance music. Rade Franjic had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Franjic
vs
Locke

195 cm
28
265
12 - 7 - 0

190 cm
27
263
11 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

30th Century Beer Store
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Conviction

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 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rade Franjic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ryan Locke!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Paul Tew and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Locke just misses with a punch to the body.
Franjic misses with a right hand
and Locke counters with a nice uppercut.
Franjic blocks a jab.
A little feinted left hand from Franjic on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Franjic looks to score with a jab to the body but Locke is just out of range.
Locke swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
We've been told by Franjic's head coaches at Death By Snu Snu that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Franjic ducks under a wild hook from Locke.
Franjic throws an off balance right hand
and Franjic takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Locke misses with a hook. Franjic ducked under it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franjic keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Locke.
Locke has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Franjic is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Franjic throws a wild body kick that Locke sees coming a mile off.
Locke misses the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Locke checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Locke throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Franjic uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Locke.
Locke throws a lazy right hand but Franjic sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Locke uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Franjic has time to react.
Franjic throws a body kick that misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Locke misses the target.
Franjic moves out of range as Locke strikes.
Locke connects with a good right hand that stumbles Franjic. Franjic circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Franjic scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Locke doesn't seem bothered though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franjic shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Locke misses with a looping right.
Franjic appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Locke dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Locke cracks a nice hook into Franjic's ribs.
Locke throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Franjic counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Locke might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
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!
Franjic tries to land a leg kick but Locke saw it coming and moves away.
Locke dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Locke throws a shot from downtown. Franjic moves away and avoids it.
Franjic misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Locke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franjic tries to land a body kick
and Locke counters with a left to the body.
A slow jab from Locke misses its intended target.
Franjic missing with a left hand there. Locke was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Locke misses with a straight left.
It looked like Franjic was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Locke.
Locke has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Franjic.
Locke blocks a jab.
Locke now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Franjic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A little jabbing left from Locke on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Locke looks to score with a jab to the body but Franjic is just out of range.
Franjic swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Locke counters with a left to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Locke just misses with a punch to the body.
A nice leg kick from Franjic, right into the meat of the thigh.
Locke defending well as Franjic loads up on a big left hand.
Franjic on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Locke works the jab nicely.
Franjic misses with the body kick
and Locke connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Locke lands with a good body shot.
Franjic scores with a leg kick.
A low kick from Franjic is predictable there
and Locke cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Locke dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Franjic needs to keep his hands up - Locke had a free shot at his head there.
Locke has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Locke changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Locke throws a sloppy body shot
and Franjic counters with a straight right hand.
Franjic throws a wild body kick that Locke sees coming a mile off.
Ryan Locke seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Franjic throws a push kick but Locke slaps the foot to one side.
Locke ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Locke uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Franjic.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franjic turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A nice leg kick from Franjic, right into the meat of the thigh.
Locke comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franjic throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Locke doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Locke throws an off balance right hand
enabling Franjic to counter with a crisp jab.

It looks like Ryan Locke has been cut.
Locke scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Locke on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Franjic throws an overhand right that lands on Locke's shoulder, as Locke tries to avoid the shot.

Franjic lands a big head kick that sends Locke tumbling to the mat! Franjic takes a step backwards and waves Locke back to his feet - he wants the finish!
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!
Locke fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Franjic manages to avoid it.
Locke thuds a left hand into Franjic's body.
Franjic fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Locke manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franjic uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Locke.
Franjic swings for the body but Locke moves out of range.
Locke connects with a body shot that sends Franjic's belly button to the back.
Franjic slips a straight right by Locke.
Franjic thinks about countering with a body kick.
Locke lands with a shot to the body.
Franjic thows a leg kick but Locke checks it
and Locke counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Locke lunges at Franjic with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Franjic's hand.
Franjic bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Locke waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Franjic.
Franjic was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Franjic steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Locke.
Locke checks a leg kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Locke! But no joy.
Franjic misses with a two punch combination.
Locke misses with a looping left.
Locke throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Locke moves out of range as Franjic strikes.
Franjic misses the jab.
Franjic takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Locke misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Franjic.
Franjic lands with a good body shot.
Franjic looks to throw the jab but Locke is out of range.
A jab from Locke does it's job there.
Franjic throws a right hand that misses
enabling Locke to counter with a crisp jab.
Franjic pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Franjic misses with an uppercut
and Locke counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Franjic gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Franjic shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
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 Rade Franjic will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ryan Locke's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Locke pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Franjic is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Franjic rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Locke to counter with a crisp jab.
Franjic misses with a body punch
and Locke counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Franjic tries to move into range but Locke moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Locke slips under a jab.
Locke appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
A swing and a miss from Franjic.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franjic avoids the body shot from Locke.
Nice shot by Locke.
Locke stuns Franjic with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Locke connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Franjic throws a predictable looking body shot
letting Locke counter with a right hand.
Franjic misses with a head kick.
Locke throws out a counter right but Franjic avoids it with no problem.
Franjic takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Locke connects with a nice looking jab.
Franjic displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Locke throws out the jab.
Franjic jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Locke takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Locke looks to score with a jab to the body but Franjic is just out of range.
Locke ducks under a wild hook from Franjic.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franjic wants to land a leg kick but Locke is out of range.
Franjic keeps Locke at a distance using the push kick.
Locke misses with a straight left.
Locke on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That has opened up Ryan Locke's cut even more.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Franjic misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Locke.
Franjic feints and then cracks Locke's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Locke down.
Locke lands a nice looking body shot.
Franjic moves out of range as Locke strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Locke ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Franjic moves away.
Nice body kick there by Franjic.
Franjic takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Franjic throws a push kick but Locke slaps the foot to one side.
Locke looks to land a left hand but Franjic moved out of range nicely.
A leg kick checked by Locke.
Locke 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.
Franjic misses with a low kick.
Franjic looks to land a left hand but Locke moved out of range nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Locke ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Locke steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Franjic. That one must have hurt.
Franjic misses with an uppercut.
Locke throws out a counter right but Franjic avoids it with no problem.
Locke lands a nice hook to Franjic's body. Franjic takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Locke wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Locke works Franjic's body with a nice hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Franjic thows a body kick. Locke tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Locke takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Franjic keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Locke comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Locke has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 28:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Locke!
After the fight, Ryan Locke was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.