PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alberto Felisio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rich Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Felisio
vs
Franklin

182 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

196 cm
21
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alberto Felisio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rich Franklin!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Felisio tries to clinch up but Franklin circles away and keeps his distance.
Franklin throws a right and a left that Felisio avoids nicely.
Franklin lands a front kick.
Franklin lands with a nice combination. Felisio backs away looking to recover.
Felisio lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Rich Franklin has been cut.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Franklin throws a combination. Felisio tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Felisio misses with an uppercut.
Felisio tries to clinch up but Franklin circles away and keeps his distance.
Felisio tries to close the distance and clinch but Franklin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Felisio shoots in and drives through. Franklin sprawls well.
Felisio is looking to clinch.
Franklin throws a nice looking combination but Felisio bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Franklin is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Franklin closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Franklin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Felisio tries to bum rush Franklin with a series of wild strikes but Franklin uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Franklin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Felisio scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Felisio has managed to clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Felisio misses with a hook from the clinch.

Franklin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Felisio closes the distance and clinches up with Franklin, looking for a takedown. Felisio pushes Franklin against the cage but Franklin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Alberto Felisio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Franklin moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Franklin defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Felisio.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alberto Felisio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Felisio tries to clinch but Franklin moves away
and Franklin counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Felisio tries to clinch
and Franklin makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Felisio really felt that one!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Franklin moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Franklin throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Franklin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Franklin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Felisio.
Felisio steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Franklin. That one must have hurt.
Nice body kick from Franklin.

Franklin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Felisio, pushing him back against the cage.

Franklin has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Felisio is trying to keep an underhook but Franklin manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Franklin is pressing down on Felisio's thigh, looking to free his foot. Felisio is holding on for now.
Franklin passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Felisio!
Felisio tries to lock up and control but Franklin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Franklin is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Felisio is trying desperately to improve position.
Franklin landing strikes from the mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Franklin thowing shots but they're missing.
Felisio working to try and regain half guard.
Franklin putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Franklin throwing strikes but Felisio uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Franklin wants to take a breather but Felisio is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Franklin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Felisio sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Felisio tries to roll over but Franklin keeps him under control.
Franklin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Felisio might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Franklin wants to work for an arm triangle but Felisio is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Franklin looks gassed!
Felisio tries to get to full guard but Franklin has control of the leg.

Franklin decides to stand up.
Felisio doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Franklin counters with a body kick that stops Felisio in his tracks momentarily.
Felisio wants to clinch

and Franklin counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Franklin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Franklin breaks from the clinch.
Franklin throws a right hand that Felisio ducks under and follows up with a left that Felisio also avoids with ease.
Franklin takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Felisio tries to clinch but Franklin moves away
and Franklin counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Felisio looks to score with a jab to the body but Franklin is just out of range.
Felisio shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Felisio ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Felisio clinches but Franklin breaks the clinch
and Franklin counters with a straight right hand.
Franklin misses with the combination.
Franklin is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Felisio.
Franklin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Felisio has his takedown stuffed
and Franklin counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Felisio throws a one two combo.
Felisio doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Franklin counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rich Franklin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rich Franklin's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Felisio rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Franklin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Franklin looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Franklin stands up and beckons Felisio to join him on the feet.
Felisio misses with a takedown attempt

and Franklin counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Franklin.
Felisio wants to sweep but no luck.

Felisio is working an open guard so Franklin takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Felisio. Franklin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Felisio wants to clinch

and Franklin counters with a takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Franklin decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Franklin keeps the fight on the outside.
Franklin defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Felisio.
Franklin slips under a jab from Felisio.
Felisio will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Felisio scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Felisio tries for a takedown but Franklin circles away easily
and Franklin counters with a body kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alberto Felisio. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Franklin feints and as Felisio raises his hands in defense, Franklin changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Felisio wants to get back to his feet but Franklin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Franklin lands a couple of elbows.
Felisio is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Franklin is controlling him.

Franklin gets to his feet. Felisio looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Some wild striking there from Franklin.
Franklin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Alberto Felisio is winning the standup battle so far.
Franklin misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Felisio lands a jab to Franklin's midsection.
Felisio goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Franklin throws a series of punches but Felisio moves out of range.
Felisio tries to clinch but Franklin moves away
and Franklin counters with a head kick.
A solid body kick from Franklin.

Felisio moves into range and clinches up with Franklin.

Franklin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Felisio tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Felisio misses with a jab, cross combination.
Felisio throws a left and a right that both miss

and Franklin counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Franklin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Felisio trying to control here.
Franklin wants to stand up but Felisio has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Felisio is trying to stand back up but Franklin is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Felisio moves into full guard.
Felisio looking for a sweep. Not yet Felisio, not yet.

Franklin gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Franklin stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Franklin wants it to stay on the feet.
Felisio darts in trying to clinch

and Franklin counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Franklin decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Felisio throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Franklin counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The ground and pound from Franklin seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Franklin wants to stand but Felisio is controlling his arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Franklin is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Felisio knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Franklin throws a strike aimed at the side of Felisio's head but Felisio avoids it well.
Felisio manages to work his way to half guard, despite Franklin's best efforts.
Franklin working Felisio over with strikes.
Rich Franklin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Franklin wants to stand but Felisio has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Felisio manages to escape and get back to his feet!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Felisio.
Felisio is looking to wear down Franklin with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Felisio doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Franklin makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Felisio really felt that one!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rich Franklin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rich Franklin's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Felisio tries to clinch up
and Franklin counters with a two punch combo.
Felisio misses with a takedown

and Franklin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Felisio's guard.
Franklin throws and elbow that misses. Felisio uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Franklin's guard. Nice move by Felisio!
Franklin looking for a sweep. Not yet Franklin, not yet.
Franklin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Felisio has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Franklin is proving hard to escape from.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Felisio pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Franklin is keeping the position for now.
Felisio with a nice head shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Felisio drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Franklin manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Felisio has Franklin in his guard.

Franklin stands up from Felisio's guard - Franklin perhaps looking for a knockout.

Franklin shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Felisio napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Felisio is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Franklin scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Felisio is looking to escape.
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.
Franklin wants to take a breather but Felisio is having none of it.
Felisio wants to control but Franklin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Felisio is pressing down on Franklin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Franklin throws a strike but Felisio rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Felisio landing with the ground and pound.

Felisio thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Felisio postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Felisio working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Felisio is looking to work some ground and pound but Franklin has wrist control.
Felisio working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Franklin's head.
Franklin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Franklin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Franklin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Felisio tries to clinch but Franklin moves away

and Franklin counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Franklin wants to get back to his feet.
Franklin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Alberto Felisio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Franklin wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Felisio is pressing down on Franklin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Felisio not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Franklin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Felisio wants to stand up but Franklin is controlling him.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Felisio fails with an attempt to clinch.
Felisio shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Franklin defends it nicely.
Franklin lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Felisio backs up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rich Franklin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Franklin 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

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