PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Icco Girugamesh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shante Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Girugamesh
vs
Franklin

181 cm
20
175 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
183 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Icco Girugamesh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Shante Franklin!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Aafke Stam and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franklin throws a hook to the side of Girugamesh's head but Girugamesh sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Girugamesh shoots in looking for a takedown. Franklin tries to sprawl out of it but Girugamesh keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Franklin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Franklin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Girugamesh, pushing him back against the cage.
Franklin gets underhooks to prevent Girugamesh's takedown attempt.
Franklin lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Girugamesh tries to pull guard but Franklin won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Icco Girugamesh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franklin lands with a left to the head.
Girugamesh tries to pull guard but Franklin holds him up against the cage and eventually Girugamesh drops back down to his feet.
Franklin is pressed up against the cage. Girugamesh has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Franklin down to the mat. Franklin avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Franklin instigates a clinch.
Girugamesh tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Franklin just stands there and leans against the cage.
Girugamesh tries to pull guard but Franklin won't allow it.
Franklin has had enough of the clinch but Girugamesh keeps him there for the moment.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Girugamesh drops down looking for an ankle pick but Franklin pulls his leg out and moves away.
Horrible takedown by Girugamesh or perhaps it was just good defense by Franklin which made him look bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Girugamesh walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nice body punch from Franklin.
Girugamesh throws a right and a left that both miss.
Franklin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Girugamesh was well out of range. Poor timing from Franklin.
Girugamesh fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Girugamesh shoots in but Franklin avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Girugamesh moves out of range as Franklin strikes.
Girugamesh on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Horrible takedown by Girugamesh or perhaps it was just good defense by Franklin which made him look bad.
Girugamesh circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Girugamesh moves away.
Franklin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Girugamesh circles away quickly and effectively.
Girugamesh fails with a takedown attempt.
Franklin connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Girugamesh momentarily.
Girugamesh fails to land the takedown.
Icco Girugamesh seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Franklin thuds his right hand into Girugamesh's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Girugamesh tries to move into range but Franklin moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Girugamesh showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Franklin.
Horrible takedown by Girugamesh or perhaps it was just good defense by Franklin which made him look bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Icco Girugamesh has been cut.
Horrible takedown by Girugamesh or perhaps it was just good defense by Franklin which made him look bad.
Franklin lands a lovely overhand right.
Franklin throws a solid leg kick but Girugamesh takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Franklin.

Girugamesh clinches.
Girugamesh jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Franklin walks away with a smile on his face. Girugamesh gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A telegraphed right hand from Franklin misses the target.
Shante Franklin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice takedown defense from Franklin. No joy for Girugamesh on that attempt.
Franklin scores with the left hand. Girugamesh knows he should have avoided that one.
Franklin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Girugamesh manages to avoid it.

Franklin closes the distance and pushes Girugamesh back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Franklin gets underhooks to prevent Girugamesh's takedown attempt.
Girugamesh tries a knee to the head but Franklin blocks it.
Franklin scores with a shot to the side of Girugamesh's head.
Girugamesh wants a takedown but no success here.
A hook to the body from Franklin.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Girugamesh jumps guard but Franklin stands there with Girugamesh around his waist. Girugamesh gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Girugamesh trying to control the position but instead, Franklin has worked for underhooks and has pushed Girugamesh into the cage.
Nice body punch from Franklin - that landed with a thud.
Girugamesh is breathing heavily.
Girugamesh tries for a takedown but Franklin manages to get underhooks.
Franklin scores with a nice hook to the head.
Girugamesh tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Girugamesh letting Franklin take a breather here.
Franklin receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Franklin has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Franklin stops a takedown attempt from Girugamesh.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Girugamesh. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Girugamesh tries to pull guard but Franklin won't allow it.
A short right from Franklin.
A right handed body shot lands from Franklin.
Franklin gets through Girugamesh's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shante Franklin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Icco Girugamesh's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Franklin cracks Girugamesh with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Girugamesh.
Girugamesh shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Franklin but Franklin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Franklin scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Jab by Franklin.
Girugamesh fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Icco Girugamesh. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Franklin lands a left and a right that send Girugamesh crashing to the mat, dazed. Franklin thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Girugamesh is rocked!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Girugamesh shoots for a double leg takedown but Franklin sprawls well. He's pushed Girugamesh's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Girugamesh fails to land the takedown.
Franklin connects with a good straight punch right through the guard and follows up with a right hook and a left hook! That last one sent Girugamesh tumbling to the canvas! Franklin pours on the pressure with more strikes and the referee has no hesitation diving in to stop the fight! Girugamesh was done - good stoppage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:02 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Shante Franklin!