PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Leshley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gerhard Franke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Leshley might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to I am the Dominator. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Leshley
vs
Franke

190 cm
22
263 lbs
5 - 3 - 1

195 cm
20
240 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Canadian Fighter Clothing

Machina Clothing

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 5 - 3 - 1, fighting out of New York, Bobby Leshley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gerhard Franke!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Lou da Vinci and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Leshley has taken the fight to the clinch.

Leshley breaks from the clinch.
Leshley dodges the punch combination from Franke.
Leshley tries to clinch up but Franke circles away and keeps his distance.
Leshley throws a hook but Franke avoids it easily.

Leshley clinches with his opponent.
Leshley keeps control of Franke as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Leshley has Franke pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Leshley pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Franke tumbling to the mat - Leshley dives into Franke's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Leshley loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Franke looking to hit a scissor sweep but Leshley is one step ahead there.
Leshley has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Leshley trying to control but Franke is working from the bottom.
Franke looking for a sweep. Not yet Franke, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leshley is looking to work some ground and pound but Franke has wrist control.

Leshley stands and steps away. Franke gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Leshley catches Franke with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

It looks like Gerhard Franke has been cut.
Franke throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Franke leaves Leshley with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Leshley misses with an uppercut. Franke saw that one coming.
Franke ducks under a wild hook from Leshley.
A jab lands there for Leshley.
Leshley doesn't manage to clinch there - Franke circles away.
Franke takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Franke lands a jab-cross combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Leshley uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Franke.
Leshley is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leshley closes this distance looking for a takedown but Franke circles away.
A left lands for Franke.
Leshley shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Franke sprawls well. Franke wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Leshley gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bobby Leshley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franke wants to clinch up but Leshley keeps it at a distance.
Leshley throws a hook but Franke avoids it easily.
Franke works over Leshley's head and body with a nice combination.
Decent striking displayed by Franke there.
Leshley shoots for a double leg takedown but Franke sprawls well. He's pushed Leshley's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Leshley shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Franke but Franke pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Leshley is breathing heavily.
A combination from Franke does no damage.
Nice uppercut there from Franke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Leshley misses its intended target.
Franke circles away from the clinch attempt
and Franke counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Leshley swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Franke counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Franke instigates a clinch.

Franke's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A head kick misses from Franke.
Nice straight punches there by Franke. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Franke.
Franke wants to clinch.
Franke misses with a takedown attempt - Leshley sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Franke, as that shot connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franke avoids a kick to the body.
Good exchange - Franke coming out on top.
Franke avoids the body shot from Leshley.
Leshley takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Leshley misses with a hook to the body

and Franke counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Leshley!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Franke is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Leshley can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

It looks like Bobby Leshley has been cut.
Franke fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Franke looking to finish Leshley with some ground and pound. This is bad for Leshley!

Leshley is rocked!
Franke is landing with some decent strikes but Leshley is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Oh Leshley is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Leshley is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Leshley seems to have got his legs back now.

Franke looking for a guillotine from mount but Leshley is having none of it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Franke looking for a guillotine from mount but Leshley is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gerhard Franke dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Leshley jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Franke blocks a jab.
Leshley darts in trying to clinch
and Franke counters with a left to the body.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Leshley checks a leg kick.
Leshley misses with a hook.
Leshley looks to land a left hand but Franke moved out of range nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franke avoids the body shot from Leshley.
Leshley looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Leshley fails with the takedown

and Franke decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Leshley's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franke trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Leshley is looking to stand up but Franke isn't so interested in that idea.

Franke drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Franke jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Franke sitting in guard here, content to control.

Franke drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Franke jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Franke looking to sit in guard and control but Leshley gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Franke looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Leshley slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

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.
Leshley won't allow Franke to sweep him here.
Franke has momentary wrist control but Leshley slips an elbow through the middle.
Leshley is in close to Franke's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Leshley stays in close to Franke's body and controls the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Leshley accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Franke is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Leshley working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Leshley stopping the sweep attempt from Franke.
Franke working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Leshley.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franke looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Leshley throwing strikes from guard but Franke blocks nicely.
Leshley throwing strikes but missing.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Leshley wants to land a leg kick but Franke is out of range.
Leshley throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Franke counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Leshley pushes Franke off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Leshley takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A big right from Leshley misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franke takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Franke blocks a jab.
Leshley darts in trying to clinch
and Franke counters with a nice uppercut.

Leshley pushes Franke up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Leshley breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Leshley walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Franke checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Franke misses the shot to the body.
Nice straight punches there by Leshley. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Leshley.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Leshley throws a sloppy body shot
and Franke counters with a nice body shot.
Franke scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Franke lands a jab to Leshley's midsection.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gerhard Franke 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.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Franke throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Leshley on the side of the head.
Leshley tries for a takedown but Franke circles away easily

and Franke holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Franke can't find room to land a body shot as Leshley controls the action.

Franke breaks from the clinch.
Leshley throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Leshley shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Franke manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Franke working for a triangle but Leshley defends it easily.
Leshley trying to control the position from guard on top but Franke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Franke has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Leshley can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franke has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Leshley can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Franke takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Franke is looking for a triangle but Leshley pushes his legs off easily.
Leshley tries to free his leg and advance position but Franke is retaining full guard.
Franke working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Leshley.
Leshley keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Franke's head.
Leshley wants to control from the top but Franke keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leshley throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Franke looking to hit a scissor sweep but Leshley is one step ahead there.
Franke avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Franke pulls Leshley in close to his closed guard and prevents Leshley from doing any damage or advancing position.
Leshley pushes down on Franke's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Leshley takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Franke tries to get to full guard but Leshley has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leshley throwing shots but Franke is blocking nicely.
Leshley looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Leshley throwing shots but Franke is blocking nicely.
Franke is trying to control but can't.
Leshley sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Franke defending well though.
Franke manages to get to full guard.
Franke has momentary wrist control but Leshley slips an elbow through the middle.
Leshley in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Leshley is working Franke over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franke is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Bobby Leshley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Leshley missing with punches from the bottom.
Franke is trying to control the action in half guard but Leshley is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Leshley is in trouble now - Franke has advanced to mount!
Gerhard Franke has got the better of the ground game so far.
Franke avoids the attempt from Leshley to control.
Gerhard Franke is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Franke landing punches.
Leshley throwing hammer fists to the chest of Franke. What's that going to do exactly?
Franke looking to control and managing it successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Gerhard Franke.
I've got Franke 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 28:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gerhard Franke!