PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nick Redding (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stewart Franks (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.

Redding
vs
Franks

178 cm
20
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

171 cm
20
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nick Redding!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stewart Franks!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Franklyn Lucas and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franks misses with a body kick.
Franks is looking to clinch but Redding is avoiding it.
No joy there for Redding, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Franks wants to clinch.
Franks swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Franks closes the distance and clinches.

Redding has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Franks clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Redding lands a shot to the head.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Redding's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Franks looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Franks is trying to break free.
Franks just trying to survive but Redding is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Franks is covering up but some of the strikes from Redding are getting through and doing damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Redding is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Franks up.
Redding biding his time, controlling Franks.

Redding working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Redding controlling well, preventing Franks from escaping the position.
Franks is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Franks trying to control the hands but Redding breaks the grip.
Franks is trying to get back to his feet but Redding has full control of the position and if anything, Franks has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Franks is in bad spot here.
Redding lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Franks hold on?!

Redding working for a choke but Franks is defending well.
Franks is in bad spot here.
Franks looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franks looking very determined here, making life difficult for Redding.
Franks turns into Redding and is now in his guard.
Redding manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Franks manages to get himself to full guard.
Redding trying to control the position from guard on top but Franks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Redding 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.
Franks looking for a sweep. Not yet Franks, not yet.
Redding tries to stand but Franks is controlling from the bottom.
Franks trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Franks keeping moving, preventing Redding from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Redding thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Franks looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Franks keeping busy on the bottom but Redding has passed one foot through into half guard.

Franks looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Franks manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Franks throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Franks looking to control.
Franks wants to sweep here but Redding controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Franks ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Redding moves away.
Redding tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Franks counters with an inside leg kick.
Redding has his takedown stuffed

and Franks decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Redding's guard.
Franks lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Redding lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Franks!
Redding tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Redding's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nick Redding will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Franks keeps the fight on the outside.
Redding tries to clinch up.
Redding darts in trying to clinch

and Franks counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Redding controlling the position.
Franks stops Redding from standing up.
Franks wants to pass the guard but Redding is keeping the position.

Redding escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Franks gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Franks trying to control but Redding is working from the bottom.
Franks is breathing heavily.
Redding not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Redding controlling Franks's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Redding keeping moving, preventing Franks from controlling successfully.
Redding working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Franks.
Redding is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Stewart Franks has got the better of the ground game so far.
Redding preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Redding, right into the meat.
Franks pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Redding tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Franks counters by moving into the clinch.
Redding is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Franks missing with knees to the body.
Redding jumps guard but Franks stands there with Redding around his waist. Redding gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Franks wants to get back to striking at distance but Redding won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Redding wants to break the clinch but can't.
Franks tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Redding with a knee to the head.
Franks avoiding damage as Redding throws knees to the body.
Redding fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Redding. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Redding tries to land knees in the clinch but Franks avoids the damage to the body.
Franks looking to throw knees to the head but Redding is blocking nicely.
Redding lands a knee to the body.
Franks tries a knee to the head but Redding blocks it.

Franks breaks from the clinch.
Redding fails in his attempt to clinch.
Franks lands an overhand right.
Redding keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Franks throws a head kick that misses.
Franks tries a head kick but it misses.
Redding tries to close the distance and clinch but Franks swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Redding throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Franks.

Franks scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Franks slips a nice elbow through Redding's hands, connecting with Redding's forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Redding has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Franks is working away from the top position though.

Redding looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Redding is trying to control but can't.
Franks throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Franks is looking to take a break and control but Redding is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Redding tries to roll over but Franks keeps him under control.
Franks prevents Redding from standing back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Franks throws a nice looking combination but Redding bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Redding has managed to clinch.
Redding tries to pull guard but Franks won't allow it.

Franks escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Franks.
Franks tries to clinch but Redding moves out of range.
Redding scores with a leg kick.
Redding misses with a takedown attempt - Franks sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Redding lands a high kick!
Redding lands with a slapping head kick.
Redding tries to clinch there but Franks circles away.
Redding tries to close the distance and clinch up but Franks swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Redding clinches up against the cage.
Redding is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Franks trying to land knees to the body.
Redding tries for a takedown but Franks manages to get underhooks.
Stalling in the clinch from Redding.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Franks misses with a knee to the head.
Redding wants to break free but Franks has control.

Redding breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Franks throws a lazy head kick

and Redding counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Redding lands a nice short elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stewart Franks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Redding keeps the fight on the outside.

Franks shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Franks showed some decent athleticism there.
Franks missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Franks tries to pass to full mount but Redding defends it.
Franks is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Redding reverses the position - he's now on top in Franks's guard.
Franks lands a couple of shots from the bottom.
Franks is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Redding has hold of Franks's hands but Franks slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Franks looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Redding won't allow Franks to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Franks.
Franks thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Redding's head.
Redding is trying to get back to full guard.
Franks is looking to take a break and control but Redding is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Franks lands with a punch from half guard.
Redding preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Franks moves nicely into side control.
Redding sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Redding manages to get to full guard.
Franks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Redding is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Redding working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Franks.
Redding wants to hit a switch here but Franks passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Redding there!
Franks lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Franks lands a nice shot to the head.
Redding wants to hold on but Franks pushes him away.
Franks tries to control but Redding wriggling away.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Franks cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Redding wants to control but Franks is having none of it.
Redding can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franks landing strikes, looking to finish!
A nice elbow there by Franks.
Franks punishing his opponent with strikes.
Franks tries to control but Redding wriggling away.
Franks scoring with strikes but Redding is staying in there.
Redding tries to lock up and control but Franks gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Franks wants to control the pace but Redding is squirming around nicely.
Redding is working to get back to half guard.
Franks thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Redding tries to hold on but Franks pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Redding holds on for dear life.
Redding is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Franks looking to finish Redding with some ground and pound. This is bad for Redding!
Redding tries to hold on but Franks postures up.
Redding takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Redding keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Franks has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Franks throws some wild stikes that Redding manages to avoid easily.
Redding flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Redding can't escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stewart Franks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Franks 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stewart Franks!