PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rich Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Entista vitamiinia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Entista vitamiinia told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Franklin
vs
vitamiinia

196 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
19
180 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rich Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Entista vitamiinia!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Ren Mimura and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
vitamiinia misses with the combination.

Franklin clinches with his opponent.
Franklin tries for a takedown but vitamiinia manages to get underhooks.

Franklin breaks the clinch.
Franklin keeps vitamiinia at a distance using the push kick.
Franklin throws a combination that misses
and vitamiinia counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Rich Franklin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - vitamiinia looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
vitamiinia fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

vitamiinia rushes Franklin and presses him up against the cage.

Franklin gets control of vitamiinia's arms and successfully pulls guard. Franklin will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Franklin looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
vitamiinia throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
vitamiinia stops Franklin from standing up.
Franklin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. vitamiinia manages to get himself to full guard.

vitamiinia is looking for a triangle but Franklin pushes his legs off easily.
Franklin wants to get up but he can't break vitamiinia's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Franklin preventing the sweep.
vitamiinia has momentary wrist control but Franklin slips an elbow through the middle.
Franklin would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Franklin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Franklin postures up.
Franklin postures up in vitamiinia's guard and throws a big left but vitamiinia blocks it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Franklin misses with a double jab
and vitamiinia counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
vitamiinia shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Franklin as he jumps to the side.
vitamiinia misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Franklin throws a combination that misses
and vitamiinia counters with a big head kick but Franklin shrugs it off.
Franklin throws a left and a right that both miss
and vitamiinia counters with a left to the body.
vitamiinia shoots for a takedown but Franklin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rich Franklin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Entista vitamiinia.
vitamiinia stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Franklin.
vitamiinia looks gassed!
vitamiinia fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Franklin avoids it really well and circles away.
vitamiinia moves out of range as Franklin throws a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin misses with a wild combination.
vitamiinia looks for a takedown but Franklin sprawls well.
Franklin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and vitamiinia holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
vitamiinia is trying to break free.

Franklin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
vitamiinia takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Franklin goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Franklin takes the fight into the clinch.

Franklin breaks the clinch.
Franklin scores with a spinning back kick!
Franklin works the jab nicely.
Franklin throws a combination that misses
and vitamiinia counters with a big head kick but Franklin shrugs it off.
Franklin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Franklin stalks vitamiinia and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into vitamiinia's face. vitamiinia staggers backwards, shaken.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Franklin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Franklin really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Franklin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and vitamiinia counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by vitamiinia.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
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 is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Franklin holds on and takes a little breather.

Franklin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
vitamiinia stops Franklin from standing up.
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 Rich Franklin will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The fight stays on the outside here - Franklin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Franklin tries to bum rush vitamiinia with a series of wild strikes but vitamiinia uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
vitamiinia dives in and grabs Franklin's left leg, looking for a takedown. Franklin pushes down on vitamiinia's head and hops out.
Franklin throws a nice looking combination but vitamiinia bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Franklin throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around vitamiinia's waist but vitamiinia gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Franklin off to one side.
Franklin tries to bum rush vitamiinia with a series of wild strikes but vitamiinia uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Franklin scores with a three punch combo!
vitamiinia rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Franklin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Franklin misses with a combination
and vitamiinia counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Franklin misses with a combination
and Franklin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
vitamiinia shoots for a takedown but Franklin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Franklin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and vitamiinia counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
vitamiinia wants to control but Franklin is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franklin kicks off vitamiinia and gets to his feet.
Franklin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and vitamiinia counters with an inside leg kick.
Franklin tries to clinch there but vitamiinia circles away.
vitamiinia takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
A solid body kick from vitamiinia.
Franklin throws a hook but vitamiinia avoids it easily.
vitamiinia shoots for a takedown but Franklin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rich Franklin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Entista vitamiinia.
Franklin throws a nice looking combination but vitamiinia bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Franklin is looking to slow vitamiinia down with leg kicks.
Franklin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and vitamiinia counters with a nice kick to the body.
vitamiinia shoots and misses

and Franklin counters with a single leg into guard. vitamiinia didn't expect that.
Franklin wants to control from the top but vitamiinia keeps moving.

Franklin gets to his feet. vitamiinia looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
vitamiinia is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Franklin instigates a clinch.

Franklin has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics vitamiinia uses from the top position.

Franklin has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes vitamiinia off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
vitamiinia circles away from the clinch attempt.
vitamiinia gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Franklin counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps vitamiinia thinking.
Franklin scores with a nice body kick.
Rich Franklin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Franklin works over vitamiinia's head and body with a nice combination.
vitamiinia lands with a slapping head kick.
Franklin misses with a double jab

and vitamiinia counters with a takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
vitamiinia taking a break here but Franklin is having none of it and regains half guard.

vitamiinia is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Franklin keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
vitamiinia not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

vitamiinia stands up from half guard.
Franklin lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Franklin clinches with his opponent.
Franklin tries for a takedown. No joy.
vitamiinia working hard to break the clinch.

Franklin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Franklin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Entista vitamiinia will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Franklin throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and vitamiinia counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Franklin is lucky that one didn't land flush.
vitamiinia fails with the takedown
letting Franklin counter with a right hand.
Franklin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
vitamiinia misses with a takedown attempt
and Franklin counters with a three punch combo that has vitamiinia backing up. vitamiinia nods at Franklin to acknowledge the strikes.
Franklin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and vitamiinia counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Franklin slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
vitamiinia looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Franklin looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst vitamiinia is controlling him.
vitamiinia looking to pass the guard.
vitamiinia would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two 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.
Franklin wants to sweep here but vitamiinia controlling him for the moment.
Entista vitamiinia has got the better of the ground game so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
vitamiinia dodges the punch combination from Franklin.
Franklin throws a nice looking combination but vitamiinia bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Franklin falls off balance throwing a combination
and vitamiinia counters with a head kick.
Franklin throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Franklin misses with a two punch combination.
vitamiinia avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Franklin misses with a double jab
and vitamiinia counters with a three punch combo that has Franklin backing up. Franklin nods at vitamiinia to acknowledge the strikes.
Franklin misses with a combination
and vitamiinia counters with a big head kick but Franklin shrugs it off.
vitamiinia fails with a takedown attempt.
Rich Franklin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Entista vitamiinia.
Franklin misses with a combination
and vitamiinia counters with a nice body kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Franklin finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Franklin!
Franklin misses with the combination.
Franklin looks to land a combination. vitamiinia sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Franklin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
vitamiinia tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Franklin counters with a one-two to the body.
Franklin with a jab.
Franklin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Franklin closes the distance and clinches.
vitamiinia's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
vitamiinia misses with a punch on the inside.
Franklin has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
vitamiinia wants a takedown but no success here.

Franklin breaks the clinch.
Franklin throws a wild body kick that vitamiinia sees coming a mile off.
Franklin misses with a few strikes there.
vitamiinia gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Franklin makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
vitamiinia has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Franklin.
Franklin misses with a two punch combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rich Franklin.
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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rich Franklin!