PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Handy Couture (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gertrude Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Handy Couture has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Couture
vs
Franklin

185 cm
22
225 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

200 cm
20
250 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Boondock Fightwear

Goodness You Nutrition

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Handy Couture!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gertrude Franklin!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Gwen Towbar and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franklin will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
No joy there for Franklin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Couture swats away the attempt to clinch by Franklin.
Couture shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Franklin as he avoids it easily.
Couture fails with a takedown attempt.
Couture fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Handy Couture. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franklin stuffs the takedown attempt from Couture. Couture gets slowly back to his feet.
Franklin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Couture moves out of range as Franklin strikes.

Couture bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Franklin tries to improve position but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Franklin looks gassed!
Couture tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Couture scoring with punches from side control.
Couture working the head and body with strikes.
Couture is putting a hurting on Franklin here, landing some big shots from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Couture throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Couture creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Franklin sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Couture creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Franklin sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Sloppy strikes there by Couture.
Couture works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Sloppy strikes there by Couture.
Couture connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Franklin some visible discomfort.
Franklin manages to work his way to half guard, despite Couture's best efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Couture throwing shots but Franklin is blocking nicely.
Couture lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Couture tries to stand but can't do so whilst Franklin controls his leg.
Franklin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Couture.
Couture misses with a head shot. Franklin uses the momentum to regain guard.
Couture might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Franklin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Couture thows a big elbow that misses.
Couture with a flurry of punches that miss.
Franklin keeping full guard, as Couture tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Franklin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Couture misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Franklin looks to land a body kick but Couture moved away.

Couture decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Couture misses with a head shot. Franklin uses the momentum to regain guard.
Franklin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Couture throwing strikes but missing.
Couture distracts Franklin with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Couture looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture throws a strike but Franklin rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Couture trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Franklin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Couture. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Franklin wants to control from the top but Couture keeps moving.

Couture scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Couture circles away from the clinch attempt.
Franklin tries to clinch up.
Couture tries for a takedown but Franklin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gertrude Franklin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Franklin throws a combination. Couture tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Handy Couture has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Couture swats away the attempt to clinch by Franklin.
Franklin stuffs the takedown attempt from Couture. Couture gets slowly back to his feet.
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 Handy Couture will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Handy Couture's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Franklin works over Couture's head and body with a nice combination.
Franklin tries to clinch there but Couture circles away.
Franklin tries to clinch up.
Franklin is looking to clinch.

Couture drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Couture wants to pass the guard but Franklin is keeping the position.
Couture works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Franklin is trying to stand back up but Couture is controlling him
Couture thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Franklin's head.
Couture scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Couture not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Couture tries to pass the half guard into mount. Franklin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Franklin is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin wants to control but Couture is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Franklin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Couture.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Couture keeps the fight on the outside.
Franklin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Franklin fails to land with a series of punches.
Franklin thows a body shot but no joy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Franklin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Couture shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Franklin but Franklin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Couture keeps the fight on the outside.
Franklin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Couture avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Franklin scores with a three punch combo!
Some wild striking there from Franklin.
Handy Couture is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

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.

Couture closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Couture lands in his opponent's guard.
Franklin trying to control the position.
Couture looking to pass the guard.
Couture lands a couple of elbows.
Couture loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Franklin looking to control.
Couture is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Couture postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Couture postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Couture looking to pass the guard.
Couture works over Franklin with some ground and pound from guard.
Couture throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Franklin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Franklin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Couture lands a couple of elbows.
Couture loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Franklin wants to stand up but Couture is controlling him.
Couture thows a big elbow that misses.
Franklin trying to keep a closed guard but Couture is proving a slippery customer.
Couture pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Franklin is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice takedown defense from Franklin. No joy for Couture on that attempt.
Franklin is looking to chop away at Couture's legs.
Some wild striking there from Franklin.
Franklin looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Couture shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Franklin but Franklin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Handy Couture. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franklin misses with a straight left.
Couture shoots in for a takedown but Franklin shows good takedown defense.
Couture looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Franklin doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Couture counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Couture's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Couture lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Couture working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Handy Couture dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Handy Couture's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Couture gets a takedown into half guard.
Franklin trying to control from the bottom.
Couture thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Franklin to regain full guard.
Couture pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Franklin is keeping the position for now.
Couture has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Couture postures up.
Franklin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Couture.
Couture preventing the sweep.
Franklin looking to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Couture throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Franklin shoots and misses

and Couture counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Franklin taking some punishment here, with Couture in his half guard.
Couture works his way into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couture with shots to the head and body - Franklin looks very uncomfortable down there.
Couture throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Franklin because Couture loaded up on that one.
Couture avoids the attempt from Franklin to control.
Franklin might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Couture kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Couture working the ground and pound effectively.
Couture raining down shots from the mount!
Couture raining down shots from the mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Franklin takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Couture landing shots from mount.
Franklin tries to reverse the position but Couture maintains control.
Couture looking to ground and pound but Franklin is blocking nicely.
Franklin regains half guard.
Franklin is holding on to half guard well.
Couture trying to pass the guard but Franklin defending well.
Couture thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couture takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Franklin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Couture.
Couture missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Franklin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Couture.
Couture works his foot free and advances to mount.
Couture throws a strike there. Franklin manages to avoid it well and slips a leg under to get to half guard.
Couture not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Couture thows a huge punch but Franklin dodges it nicely.

Franklin kicks off Couture and gets to his feet.
Franklin throws a series of punches but Couture moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couture shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Franklin tries to clinch but Couture is having none of it.

Couture closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Couture landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Couture landing strikes.
You can see the frustration on Franklin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Couture in side control lands a decent elbow.
Couture misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Couture postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Gertrude Franklin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Couture throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Couture working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Couture working away.
Franklin is trying to keep from getting into a worse position than he's already in but Franklin is working away and isn't letting himself get tied up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Handy Couture showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Couture, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 George Francis scores the fight for Handy Couture!
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight for Handy Couture!
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight for Handy Couture!

Handy Couture wins by unanimous decision!